- Investment of EUR 24 million for a new hydrometallurgical plant in Harjavalta, Finland.
- The facility will recycle lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese from EV batteries.
- Expected to be operational in 2023, creating approximately 30 jobs.
- Fortum's project shortlisted for EU's Innovation Fund and received IPCEI grants.
Investment and Expansion
Fortum has committed EUR 24 million to build a new hydrometallurgical plant in Harjavalta, Finland, aimed at expanding its lithium-ion battery recycling capacity. This facility will enhance Fortum’s ability to recover scarce metals from old electric vehicle batteries and various waste fractions from the battery supply chain.
Meeting Rising Demand
With the rapid growth of e-mobility and renewable energy, the demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to increase significantly by 2030. The new Harjavalta plant will help meet this demand by sustainably recovering critical metals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, essential for manufacturing new electric vehicle batteries.
Operational Timeline
The new facility is expected to be operational in 2023 and will create approximately 30 jobs. It will be the largest facility of its kind in Europe, significantly boosting Fortum’s processing and recycling capacity.
Technological Approach
Fortum employs a combination of mechanical and low-CO2 hydrometallurgical technologies to recycle batteries with a minimal carbon footprint. Initially, batteries are disassembled and treated mechanically at Fortum’s Ikaalinen plant, after which the black mass containing critical metals is processed hydrometallurgically in Harjavalta.
EU Recognition and Support
Fortum’s hydrometallurgical battery recycling operations have been shortlisted for the EU’s Innovation Fund for low-carbon technologies. Additionally, Fortum has received IPCEI grants from Business Finland and the EU Commission’s European Battery Innovation project, supporting the development of its recycling plants in Ikaalinen and Harjavalta.
