Recycling of Batteries in the Maritime Industry

Recently the Maritime Battery Forum was invited by our member Botree Cycling to visit China and learn about the fast-developing world of battery recycling, here’s what we learnt!

MBF Director at the Botree Cycling factory in China

Currently, an estimated 5% of lithium-ion batteries at their end of life are being recycled globally. Recycling of lithium-ion batteries can have a significant impact on the sustainability of the battery supply chain, as well as potential economic and social benefits related to raw battery material mining. Therefore, our members like Botree Cycling and Batteriretur are working hard to increase the number of batteries being recycled.

There are three methods for Lithium-ion battery recycling: hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and direct recycling. Hydrometallurgy uses different types of solvents to extract metals from battery materials. Pyrometallurgy uses heat to separate the metals from each other. The direct recycling method separate parts of the batteries for reuse and reconditioning. Depending on the method being used, a recovery of 90% to 98% of battery materials can be achieved. Which then can be used to manufacture new batteries.

Our visit to China started at a factory of Botree Cycling. Botree Cycling manufactures equipment for battery recycling plants. They aim to provide a full solution for the recycling of critical battery materials. Through the innovation of separation systems and intelligent equipment, Botree Cycling enables recycling enterprises and manufacturers of batteries or electric vehicles to realize a short, closed, and sustainable cycle of battery materials. Botree Cycling also showed their containerized battery recycling solutions, which can be used for pilot plants.

Next on the agenda in China was a visit to the battery recycling plants at Hayou Cobalt. Here we got a tour of one of the largest hydrometallurgy recycling plants in the world. Here the MBF got to see real battery recycling in action. After this, Botree Cycling arranged for the MBF to present at the China International Battery Fair and the battery recycling conference at the China International Battery Industry Cooperation Summit. Many thanks to Xiao Lin and Xue Wang from Botree Cycling for introducing the MBF to the battery recycling industry and for this very interesting visit.

Then the topic of recycling of maritime batteries. We are currently at a time where the first generation of lithium-ion batteries that have been installed on board of ships are reaching their end of life. It will have to be determined if these batteries will be used for a second-life application, or if they are ready for being recycled. MBF member Batteriretur collects and recycles all types of batteries from all over Norway, including maritime batteries.

Batteriretur Factory

Are your batteries close to their end of life, and do you want to know what your best options are and how to deal with them? Let us know at director@maritimebatteryforum.com! And we will find you the best solutions in our global community of maritime battery enablers.