INTERVIEW: Battery recyclers play key role in meeting metals shortfall, says Singapore's GLC

Battery recyclers play a vital role in meeting the global shortfall in metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper, said Yang Mingdong, CEO of Singapore-based GLC Recycle, as the company looks to quadruple its black mass output to 80,000 mt/year over 2024-2026, from 20,000 mt/year currently.

Yang described GLC Recycle as more of an eco-innovator than a battery recycler, adding that the company forms global partnerships with upstream suppliers of waste batteries and downstream battery producers.

GLC recently partnered with Volvo Buses Singapore to develop a closed-loop battery recycling system for Volvo's hybrid and electric buses in Singapore, where GLC Recycle operates a mechanical treatment line capable of treating 15,000 mt of lithium batteries yearly. Over the next two years, the line will raise its capacity to 72,000 mt/year.

Also crucial to the development of GLC Recycle was "the global adoption of EV, global regulations on battery recycling and recycled metal contents for new batteries," Yang said, and "driving global demand for battery recycling."

Global battery recycling capacity stood at 300 GWh in 2023, and could spike five times to 1,500 GWh in 2030 of which 70% will be based in China, down from an 80% share in 2023, data from the International Energy Agency showed.

"Currently, production scrap remains the primary source of battery materials for recycling. However, as EV adoption grows, end-of-life EV batteries will eventually surpass production scrap volumes, likely around 2030," Yang told S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Typically, a certain percentage of cells and batteries manufactured in battery plants will fail inspection, and these wind up as production scrap, along with end-of-life consumer electronic cells.

Battery chemistries

Battery chemistries play a part in the recycling landscape and the two leading chemistries are nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP), of which the former is better suited for recycling because it contains higher quantities of valuable metals.

"GLC Recycle's proprietary Eco-Hybrid technology is highly-adaptable and (can) handle various chemistries, including lithium-cobalt, lithium-iron-phosphate, and nickel-manganese-cobalt, effectively, to the effect of a 95% recovery rate and a 99.5% purity seen in our Eco-Series battery raw materials," Yang said.

GLC Recycle operates a processing plant at Vientiane, Laos, that can produce 24,000 mt/year of crude/recycled nickel and cobalt hydroxide, as well as 4,500 mt year of crude/recycled lithium carbonate. By the end of 2026, the processing capacity of the plant will rise to 80,000 mt/year.

In addition to advancing GLC Recycle's processing technology, Yang said it is very important to focus on a number of areas to maintain a leadership position.

For technological advancements, he emphasized investing in research and development to improve recycling processes, enhance recovery rates, and reduce environmental impact.

"The battery recycling market will continue to grow due to increasing EV adoption, environmental awareness, and regulatory pressures. Innovations in recycling technologies and circular economy practices will shape its trajectory. GLC Recycle sees itself as a supporter of the industry and will continue to guide its evolution by doing the things we do best," he said.

Supply chains need to be optimized, "ensuring a robust supply chain for raw materials, including strategic partnerships and sourcing from ethical and sustainable channels," Yang said.

As governments will legislate the recycling sector, there is a need to maintain regulatory compliance, and staying abreast of evolving regulations related to battery recycling, waste management, and environmental protection.

"Key steps include harmonizing disposal regulations nationally and globally, incentivizing responsible recycling practices, and promoting transparency in the battery value chain," he said.

There is also a need to foster closed-loop systems where recycled materials feed back into new batteries, minimizing reliance on virgin resources, Yang said.

One final area that Yang talked about was collaboration and innovation.

Battery recyclers contribute "to resource security" as they maximize recovery rates and source for materials responsibly, he said.

"Not just that, the need for recycled critical metals will continue to grow even as the supranational consciousness on recycling and sustainability grows and governments start to mandate the use of recycled materials in various supply chains, not just for battery raw materials and critical minerals," Yang said.

"But the consciousness is especially strong in electric vehicle/stationary power storage industries, hence battery recycling will be key."