Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group, is partnering battery materials company Talga Group to recover graphite from old electric vehicle (EV) batteries to produce a battery-grade product for use in new anodes.

The collaboration marks a significant step towards securing a sustainable domestic source of graphite for the UK’s EV battery industry.

Graphite is the largest single material in a lithium-ion battery, comprising up to 50% of its volume. Altilium’s proprietary recycling process can recover over 99% of the graphite from end-of-life EV batteries, allowing these valuable resources to be returned to the supply chain. Meanwhile, Talga’s green anode production technology can dramatically lower CO2 emissions from EV manufacturing.

Until recently, recycling of graphite was largely overlooked, with recyclers focused on reclaiming cathode metals from battery scrap. However, with a growing shortfall in graphite supply expected over the next decade, a shift towards self-sufficiency is critical for the UK to meet the growing needs of new green industries.

According to forecasts by the Advanced Propulsion Centre, UK anode demand for graphite is forecast to reach 46,000 t by 2027, and 95,000 t by 2030.

Altilium’s planned Teesside recycling plant will have the capacity to recover 20,000 t of graphite a year, enough to meet over 20% of UK demand by 2030. It is already recovering other critical battery metals to produce cathode active materials for direct reuse in the battery supply chain. With graphite, it will be able to recycle all battery components.

Dr Christian Marston, president and COO of Altilium, said: “We look forward to working with Talga to build a domestic, sustainable supply chain for low-carbon graphite in the UK, and leading the shift towards self-sufficiency and energy security.”

Martin Phillips, CEO of Talga Group, said: “The need to secure a long-term, localised anode supply is crucial for the EV battery market. We are excited to work with Altilium in optimising the use of recycled graphite in active anode material to enable battery makers and automotive OEMs to reduce their CO2 footprint, and to support the industry’s end-of-life battery recycling targets.”