On Monday, Sept. 9, SK tes announced the opening of its state-of-the-art battery recycling facility in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. According to the company’s press release, this milestone underscores SK tes’ commitment to developing a global network of sustainable battery recycling facilities, providing closed-loop solutions essential for the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) industry.
The new Rotterdam facility, initially spanning 10,000 square meters with potential expansion to 40,000 square meters, represents a substantial investment in addressing the material needs of the EV market. Equipped to process up to 10,000 tons of material annually, with plans to double this capacity by expanding onto an adjacent plot, the facility utilizes an industry-leading inert crushing and vacuum drying process to safely recycle lithium and EV batteries, as well as battery production material.
“SK tes has worked closely with automotive OEMs and battery manufacturers to understand their needs and ensure we remain at the forefront of recycling technology,” stated Thomas Holberg, chief operating officer at SK tes. “We have already begun receiving equipment from many of our clients and expect to fill the plant’s capacity swiftly, we are committed to meeting the need of our customers and playing our part in accelerating the transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon future.”
SK tes extracts black mass, an intermediate-processed product containing rare metals including lithium, cobalt, and nickel that is fed back into the battery supply chain. By recovering valuable materials from used batteries, SK tes mitigates the environmental impact of battery disposal and supports the growing demand for scarce raw materials required for manufacturing new batteries.
Western Europe is considered a key part of the global electric vehicle battery industry. According to McKinsey (2023), demand for lithium-ion batteries in the EU will reach 1.1 TWh in 2030, accounting for about 23.4 percent of global demand and supply of 1.25 TWh, accounting for 19 percent.
SK tes also plans to expand battery recycling capabilities at key bases in Europe. In addition to Rotterdam, SK tes is working to develop battery recycling capacity in Southern and Eastern Europe. In Asia, SK tes recently completed an EV battery recycling plant in Yancheng, China, and plans to complete an EV waste battery recycling operation in Newcastle, Australia later this year.
The strategic location of the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest seaport, improves the efficiency and sustainability of SK tes’ operations by facilitating the efficient transportation of materials.
“The opening of SK tes’ new battery recycling facility is an important step forward for the Port of Rotterdam,” said Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam. “The Port aims to play a leading role internationally in the energy transition as well as in the raw materials transition. SK tes’ innovative new facility ticks both boxes and is part of a new industrial landscape, recycling materials that are crucial for the energy transition. We look forward to continuing our good working relationship and hope to see a solid growth of SK tes’ activities in Rotterdam.”
