Battery recycler Ace Green Recycling has signed a lease agreement for a new site in India, marking the construction of what it claims will be the country’s largest battery recycling facility.
The new facility, located in Mundra, Gujarat, will build on Ace’s existing operations in India, which have been recycling batteries – including lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries – since 2023.
Plans for Expanding LFP Recycling Capacity
Ace has outlined plans to ramp up its operations in India by establishing 10,000 metric tons of annual LFP battery recycling capacity by 2026.
The company aims to expand to meet the growing demand for LFP battery recycling, seeing it as essential to supporting the increasing number of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy systems worldwide.
Strategic Location for Efficient Operations
The Mundra facility is strategically located near major Indian ports, which handle over ten percent of the country’s maritime cargo.
The prime location is expected to streamline transportation for both battery recycling feedstock and offtake products, making the entire operation more efficient and cost-effective.
Leveraging Advanced Recycling Technology
Ace is driving its expansion in India with its innovative LithiumFirst LFP battery recycling technology, which it will deploy in a phased approach.
The technology utilizes a fully electrified hydrometallurgical process to recycle batteries at room temperature, ensuring zero scope one emissions and eliminating liquid and solid waste.
The process has proven to recover around 75 percent of lithium from LFP batteries, producing lithium carbonate with a purity exceeding 99 percent.
The high-quality product is then reintegrated into the battery materials value chain.
Strengthening Ace’s Competitive Edge
Ace CEO Nishchay Chadha emphasizes that LFP batteries will dominate the lithium battery market by 2030. He explains that the company is scaling its recycling capacity to meet the anticipated demand.
He also asserts that Ace’s LFP battery recycling technology is more advanced than its competitors, even those in China, despite the country’s larger-scale lithium-ion recycling ecosystem.
Introducing GreenLead Technology for Lead Battery Recycling
In addition to LFP batteries, Ace plans to incorporate its GreenLead recovery technology at the Mundra facility to recycle lead batteries.
Unlike traditional smelting operations, GreenLead uses a fully electric process that eliminates scope one emissions and offers a more environmentally friendly approach to recycling lead.
Positioning for Future Collaborations and Growth
Ace’s Chief Technology Officer, Vipin Tyagi, highlights that the company’s recycling technology enables profitable recovery of LFP batteries, even amidst the current low lithium prices.
The success positions Ace for future partnerships and collaborations that will unlock the full potential of its technology, particularly in the growing Indian market.
Local Impact
As reported by recyclingtoday.com, the expansion not only supports Ace’s long-term growth but also contributes positively to the local economy.
