BASF, a globally renowned battery materials producer, and Nanotech Energy, a leader in graphene-based energy storage products, have formed a strategic partnership with the goal of significantly reducing the carbon footprint of Nanotech's lithium-ion batteries within the North American market. This collaboration aims to close the sustainability loop for lithium-ion batteries in North America.

As part of this agreement, BASF will manufacture cathode active materials using recycled metals at its facility in Battle Creek, Michigan. These materials will then be utilized in the production of lithium-ion battery cells by Nanotech Energy. Incorporating recycled metals into the production process can reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) impact of batteries by approximately 25% when compared to the use of primary metals sourced from mines.

In addition to BASF and Nanotech Energy, this partnership includes American Battery Technology Company (ABTC), a lithium-ion battery recycling company based in Reno, Nevada, and TODA Advanced Materials Inc. (TODA), which possesses extensive experience in manufacturing specialized precursor materials for cathode active materials and metal hydroxide in Ontario, Canada. Together, these companies are working to establish a localized battery value chain that caters to the North American consumer electronics and automotive industries.

Within this value chain, battery scrap and off-spec materials from Nanotech's pilot operation in Chico, California, as well as from its planned commercial facility, will be recycled by ABTC. ABTC will recover battery-grade metals, including nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium, which will then be used by TODA and BASF to produce new precursor materials and cathode active materials, respectively. These materials will ultimately find their way back into Nanotech's battery cell production process, creating a truly circular economy for lithium-ion batteries in North America.

BASF has already established battery recycling capacity in Europe and has been offering recycling services and cathode active materials based on recycled metals as part of a closed-loop solution in Asia for several years.

Daniel Schönfelder, Senior Vice President of Battery Base Metals and Recycling at BASF, emphasized the significance of this partnership by stating, "Our partnership with Nanotech, ABTC, and TODA marks an important step for BASF’s global battery recycling business. Now, we are establishing the first closed-loop system in North America. This enables BASF and Nanotech to produce lithium-ion batteries with locally recycled content."

Curtis Collar, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at Nanotech Energy, highlighted the collaborative effort's potential to drive sustainability across the North American electric vehicle and consumer electronics industries. He expressed pride in playing a pivotal role in reducing CO2 emissions throughout the battery value chain, considering this a significant milestone in the ongoing development and expansion of the lithium-ion battery market.

 

Source: basf.com

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