Glencore and Britishvolt to build battery plant

Gigafactory developer Glencore and Britishvolt revealed plans to build a battery plant in Kent to recycle lithium-ion batteries.

Metals and mining firm Glencore, and battery technology startup Britishvolt partnered together to develop a UK-based battery recycling plant that will reuse expensive key raw materials, the top two being cobalt and lithium.

The two companies will use 100% renewable energy to recycle the materials at Glencore’s Britannia Refined Metals (BRM) - a metal supplier in Northfleet, Kent, which used to be the site for the UK’s largest coal-fired power station. 

Head Cobal Trader at Glencore, David Brocas, commented: “We are excited to deepen our partnership with Britishvolt. Both companies are united in their ambition to further the energy and mobility transition. Glencore has decades of recycling experience across multiple disciplines (e-waste/copper scrap/battery). 

“This recycling partnership complements our long-term supply agreement for responsible cobalt from our operations in Norway and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We believe the opportunity to utilise BRM’s operations as a cutting-edge battery recycling facility will help support the development of a UK battery recycling industry. It will also play a part in furthering the UK’s climate ambitions as well as Glencore’s as we work towards net zero total emissions by 2050.” 

Once the recycling plant is complete, it will be ​​Glencore and Britishvolt’s first battery recycling facility in the UK. The expected processing capacity of the plant is estimated to be at a minimum of 10,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries per year. 

In addition to lithium-ion batteries, the battery plant will also be able to process portable electronics batteries, full EV packs, and is also looking to develop other recycling activities - like refining black mass into battery grade raw materials. 

The plant will also recycle scrap being brought in from Britishvolt’s ‘Gigafactory’ based in the town of Blyth, Northumberland. 

Britishvolt’s Chief Operating Officer, Timon Orlob, said: “This exciting project adds much to our existing relationship with Glencore supplying Britishvolt with responsibly-sourced cobalt. Recycling is key to a successful energy transition and has always been a major part of Britishvolt’s business model. 

“We’ve been looking for the perfect partner to help kick start a UK battery recycling industry and FTSE 100-listed Glencore has expert historical experience in recycling. This JV will help us both to create a truly sustainable battery value-chain, create jobs and develop new battery recycling technologies. Both Britishvolt and Glencore are fully committed to reducing carbon across the supply chain.”

Described as an ‘ecosystem’ the facility will become operational by mid-2023, and is expected to secure existing jobs and create thousands of other highly-skilled ones.