To put the ongoing electrification in perspective, the sales of electric vehicles, increased with 43 per cent globally in 2020. During the next decennium, a tenfold increase is to be expected. To manage this conversion, in a sustainable way, it is important to create a functional and effective recycling process for used batteries. It is of importance because batteries contain important metals, such as cobalt and lithium. These metals are resource-demanding to extract. To recycle and reuse these materials in new products will reduce the climate impact of electrification.

CONSTRUCTION OF A STATE-OF-THE-ART BATTERY FACILITY IN SWEDEN

One step towards becoming a leader in battery recycling is the Stena Recycling facility being built near the Stena Nordic Recycling Center in Halmstad, Sweden. Making it possible to recycle 95 per cent of a lithium-ion battery it will take battery recycling to the next level. An industrial-scale process for safe, mechanical breakdown of batteries will extract plastic and aluminum but also black mass. The latter contains, among other things, lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which can be processed into circular raw materials to produce new lithium-ion batteries. To secure that the recycling will be as good as possible, a collaboration with Johnson Matthey, one of the global leaders in sustainable technologies, has been established. Their role will be to analyze and refine the metals in the black mass. 

CHANGED FOCUS IN GERMANY

Previously, Stena Recycling operated a business in Germany focusing on refrigerator recycling. This has now been sold. Going forward, operations in Germany will focus on growth in battery collection, processing and recycling.

“We see Germany as a strategically important market for our battery recycling investments, mainly because there are a number of major car manufacturers in the country that are at the forefront in developments within electrification. We currently have one battery center in place in Germany and plan to grow significantly over the next few years,” says Kristofer Sundsgård, President and CEO of Stena Metall Group.

DENMARK’S FIRST BATTERY CENTER INAUGURATED

In Denmark, a battery center in Farum that handles, and processes large lithium-ion batteries was inaugurated in May. The center is the first of its kind in Denmark. It was celebrated with two events. ‘Powered By Stena’ was a closed event with participants from the automotive industry and other actors. It was a fruitful event with program items including safety, EU legislation, and trends. The aim was to create dialogue and exchange knowledge between the invited stakeholders. The grand opening ceremony that took place later was attended by the Danish Minister of Energy, Lea Wermelin, who ceremonially pressed the opening button for Denmark’s first battery center. A total of 130 visitors attended and were given a tour of the battery center by Henrik Grand Petersen, MD Stena Recycling Denmark. 

BATTERY CENTERS IN NORWAY AND POLAND

During the year, Stena Recycling has also built battery centers in Norway and Poland. The battery center in Norway is located in Ausenfjellet and the one in Poland in Wschowa. 

A HYBRID EVENT ON CLOSING THE LOOP FOR USED BATTERIES 

During the fall of 2021, Stena Recycling ran a marketing campaign that led up to a hybrid event about battery recycling. The event was a success with over 750 participants, present online and at Stena Nordic Recycling Center, who listened to interesting field experts from the Stena Metall Group and invited external experts. The aim of the campaign and event was to offer Stena Recycling’s expertise and solutions on battery recycling and circularity.