Lithium Salvage: a step-change in UK battery recycling and manufacturing using (Weee-EV) - to establish the UKs first Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) recycling process.

In the UK, 235,000 tonnes of Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) derived from Electric Vehicles are expected to reach end-of-life by 2040\. Additionally, planned Gigafactories are expected to produce up to 15 kt/year of scrap. LIBs are increasingly found in consumer products (e.g. hoovers, lawn mowers) with a predicted 140,000 tonnes of consumer LIBs reaching end-of-life by 2025\.

Yet the UK loses £13.63m/year from waste electricals/batteries due to lack of advanced recovery technologies \[MaterialFocus,2021\], threatening 114,000 direct automotive jobs linked to Gigafactory potential by 2040 \[T&E,2021\]. Currently all UK end-of-life LIBs are exported to Europe for pyrometallurgical-based recycling, consuming large amounts of energy and resulting in environmental emissions.

Not all materials are recovered, specifically graphite and lithium, now listed as critical raw materials by the UK government (high risk of supply problems).

Furthermore, under the EU Green Deal, all LIBs must contain minimum levels of recycled content by 2030, yet the UK has no on-shore supply of critical materials from recycled sources. This threatens the export capabilities of UK manufacturers.

**Lithium Salvage (Li-Sal)** aims to establish the UKs first LIB recycling plant in the Tees Valley. Underpinned by cutting-edge fundamental research, they have developed a proof-of-concept for a low impact, clean and capital light recycling process that will maximise the quantity and quality of materials extracted from LIBs; and reclaim graphite and lithium.

This project will deepen the industrial research required to demonstrate the optimum processes route, ensure systems scalability and commercial viability.

Together with project partners from across the battery supply chain, Li-Sal is supported by: metals and materials experts from **Teesside University (TU)** and **Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)**; waste experts and feedstock suppliers **PA Moody Recycling (GAP);** and commodity market specialists **Pennine Energy**.

Once built, the proposed facility will on-shore recycling in the UK and provide materials 'critical' to Gigafactory and renewable technology supply-chains. This will increase the attractiveness of the Tees Valley for up-stream investment in Gigafactories and provide a critical supply of materials required for a Net Zero Industrial Cluster in the Northeast of England.

The proposed factory will create new jobs (with a significant job multiplier effect upstream and downstream of the plant), drive revenue and help delivery of the Governments levelling up agenda, whilst putting the UK at the forefront of sustainable recycling innovation, supporting the Net Zero by 2050 journey.