Lithium-ion battery recycling facility established: tozero sets up commercial demonstration plant in Gendorf
Tozero's Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Plant Takes Shape in Germany
Tozero, a pioneering company in lithium-ion battery recycling, is establishing a commercial demonstration plant at the Gendorf Chemical Park in Bavaria, Germany. The facility, set to begin operation later this year, marks an important milestone in scaling the company's technology and contributing to a closed-loop, European battery value chain [1][2][3].
The heart of Tozero's recycling process lies in chemical recycling, which efficiently recovers high-purity lithium and graphite from "black mass" — a processed material derived from batteries after mechanical disassembly. This approach minimizes safety risks, reduces logistics costs, and increases the flexibility and scalability of Tozero's recycling process [1][2].
Tozero's technology boasts impressive recovery efficiency, recovering more than 80% of the lithium contained in used lithium-ion batteries, surpassing the European Union’s 2031 recycling targets. Graphite can also be fully recovered and reintegrated into the local supply chain [1].
Unlike conventional recycling processes, Tozero focuses on processing black mass instead of whole batteries, outsourcing mechanical battery disassembly to specialized partners. This strategy allows for more scalable, flexible, and safer operations [1].
The recovered lithium and graphite are of high purity, suitable for direct reuse in battery cell production, which supports circularity within the battery value chain and reduces dependence on raw material imports for Europe [1][2].
The Gendorf Chemical Park offers a "plug-and-play" infrastructure that supports fast development and scaling of the technology, presenting an ideal site for demonstration and future commercial plants [2]. InfraServ Gendorf's infrastructure and industrial services provide ideal conditions for companies aiming to scale [4].
The project is co-financed by the European Union under the EIC Accelerator Program [3]. The Gendorf Chemical Park has recently attracted two technological pioneers in the circular economy, Tozero and PRUVIA [5].
Tozero currently employs around 30 people from ten nations at its Munich site [6]. Dr. Christoph von Reden, Managing Director of InfraServ Gendorf, stated that the GENDORF Chemical Park is a pioneering location for young, fast-growing companies from future-focused industries [7].
The demonstration facility will serve as the technological foundation for the commercial production planned for 2026 [8]. By returning critical raw materials like lithium and graphite back into the economic cycle locally, Tozero's approach significantly contributes to establishing a closed-loop, European battery value chain, aligning with EU ambitions to minimize raw material import dependency and strengthen regional supply resilience [1][2].
In conclusion, Tozero’s evolving recycling technology and demonstration plant represent an important milestone in chemical recycling of lithium-ion batteries, enabling robust recovery of key materials and fostering a more sustainable and self-sufficient European battery industry [1][2][3].
References:
[1] Tozero. (2023). Tozero’s lithium-ion battery recycling process takes shape in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.tozero.com/news/tozeros-lithium-ion-battery-recycling-process-takes-shape-in-germany
[2] European Commission. (2023). Tozero to establish lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Germany. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_933
[3] European Innovation Council. (2023). Tozero receives EIC Accelerator funding. Retrieved from https://eic.europa.eu/news/tozero-receives-eic-accelerator-funding_en
[4] InfraServ Gendorf. (2023). Tozero establishes lithium-ion battery recycling plant at Gendorf Chemical Park. Retrieved from https://www.infra-serv-gendorf.de/en/news/tozero-establishes-lithium-ion-battery-recycling-plant-at-gendorf-chemical-park
[5] PRUVIA. (2023). PRUVIA joins Gendorf Chemical Park. Retrieved from https://www.pruvia.de/en/news/pruvia-joins-gendorf-chemical-park
[6] Tozero. (2023). About Tozero. Retrieved from https://www.tozero.com/about
[7] InfraServ Gendorf. (2023). Young, fast-growing companies find a home at Gendorf Chemical Park. Retrieved from https://www.infra-serv-gendorf.de/en/news/young-fast-growing-companies-find-a-home-at-gendorf-chemical-park
[8] Tozero. (2023). Tozero's lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Gendorf is a milestone for the company, serving as an important interim step in scaling its technology. Retrieved from https://www.tozero.com/news/tozeros-lithium-ion-battery-recycling-facility-in-gendorf-is-a-milestone-for-the-company-serving-as-an-important-interim-step-in-scaling-its-technology
- The establishment of Tozero's lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Germany marks an essential step towards the scaling of environmental-science and technology in the battery industry, contributing significantly to the financial growth of the environmental-science sector.
- As the recovered lithium and graphite from Tozero's recycling process are of high purity, they can be indirectly used in various industries, such as technology, by being reintegrated into the local supply chain for battery cell production, thereby reducing Europe's reliance on imported raw materials.
