On Tuesday, July 2, Norwegian battery recycling firm Hydrovolt announced plans to expand internationally and open a facility in Hordain in Northern France.
According to Hydrovolt’s press release the company chose Northern France because it is “a growing hub for the battery value chain” and four major battery production facilities have already been attracted to the area.
“This is a big milestone for Hydrovolt,” Ole-Christen Enger CEO of Hydrovolt said in a statement. “It is key for us to establish local presence across Europe to help build a circular battery value chain.”
Established in 2020, Hydrovolt is a joint venture between the Norwegian industry giant Hydro and the Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt. Headquartered in Oslo, Hydrovolt also operates one of Europe’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling plants in Fredrikstad, Norway.
The company aims to create a circular solution for end-of-life batteries by producing high quality, and sustainable raw materials. Hydrovolt turns recycled batteries into “black mass,” a powder made up of nickel, manganese, cobalt, lithium, and graphite that can be reused to make new batteries.
“Recycling provides a new supply of battery-grade metals, which is preferable to freshly mined materials,” the company said.
According to the press release, Hydrovolt’s first step will be to establish a collection point that can discharge and dismantle EV batteries and industrial batteries. The site also has a suitable setup for recycling operations.
Pending final permits, the company estimates to start operations in 2025.
Photo Credit: Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
