- The facility recycles 95% of valuable metals from batteries using hydrometallurgical technology.
- It produces nickel and cobalt sulphates meeting customer specifications.
- EU regulations require increased recycled materials in batteries by 2026.
- Fortum's German hub can pre-treat over 3,000 tonnes of batteries per year.
Facility Overview
Fortum Battery Recycling has commenced operations at its hydrometallurgical battery material recycling facility in Harjavalta, Finland. This facility is the largest in Europe by recycling capacity and the first commercial-scale hydrometallurgical recycling plant in the region. It aims to meet the growing demand for sustainable battery materials and reduce Europe's reliance on imported raw materials.
Recycling Process
The facility uses advanced hydrometallurgical technology to recover 95% of valuable metals from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and production waste. It produces secondary metals like nickel and cobalt sulphates, which meet customer specifications. The plant is designed to operate with high safety standards and a low carbon footprint.
Regulatory Compliance
With the new EU sustainable batteries regulation, manufacturers must increase the amount of recycled materials in batteries by 2026. Fortum's early investment in recycling technology positions it to meet these upcoming legislative requirements. The company is also working on recovering critical battery materials from industrial side streams.
Operational Scope
Fortum Battery Recycling's operations span the entire value chain in Europe, including pre-treatment services in Kirchardt, Germany, mechanical processing in Ikaalinen, and hydrometallurgical metal recovery in Harjavalta. The combined mechanical and hydrometallurgical processes enable the recycling of 80% of a battery. The German hub can pre-treat over 3,000 tonnes of batteries annually.
Future Expansion
As the demand for batteries and critical raw materials grows with the rise of e-mobility, Fortum Battery Recycling is exploring opportunities to expand its operations to other European regions. The company aims to harness all waste streams containing critical metals to meet industry needs and support decarbonisation efforts.
