Commercial Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Facility Established in Gendorf by tozero
In Bavaria, Germany, tozero is constructing a demonstration plant for lithium-ion battery recycling at the Gendorf Chemical Park, with plans to open it before the end of 2025 [1][2][3]. This plant will serve as a technological foundation for commercial operations starting in 2026 [1][2][3].
The demonstration plant will utilise tozero’s proprietary chemical recycling process, designed to recover over 80% of lithium and fully recycle graphite from the "black mass," the crushed interior material of spent lithium-ion batteries [1][2][3]. This process exceeds typical industry recovery rates and EU targets for 2031, allowing reintegration of high-purity lithium and graphite back into battery cell production [1][2][3].
To minimise safety risks, reduce logistics costs, and increase flexibility and scalability, tozero outsources the mechanical breakdown of complete batteries into black mass to external partners. This approach enables the company to focus its facility on chemical processing [3].
The location at Gendorf Chemical Park, with its existing infrastructure and “plug-and-play” industrial services, facilitates a rapid and cost-efficient setup without major new construction. The investment for the plant is in the low to mid single-digit million euros range and has received co-financing from the European Union’s EIC Accelerator program [1][2][3][4].
Future plans include scaling up from the demonstration plant to commercial-scale production in 2026. The company already has multiple potential buyers lined up for the recycled high-purity materials, positioning tozero as a key player in Europe’s lithium-ion battery circular economy and helping reduce dependency on raw material imports [2][4].
Dr. Christoph von Reden, Managing Director of InfraServ Gendorf, stated that tozero is a technological pioneer in the circular economy [5]. Ksenija Milicevic Neumann, CTO of tozero, did not provide specific details about the process [6].
References:
[1] tozero. (2023, February 13). tozero is establishing a commercial demonstration plant for lithium-ion battery recycling at the GENDORF Chemical Park. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.totzero.com/news/totzero-is-establishing-a-commercial-demonstration-plant-for-lithium-ion-battery-recycling-at-the-gendorf-chemical-park
[2] European Commission. (2023, March 13). tozero receives €15 million from the European Innovation Council Accelerator to develop a circular economy for lithium-ion batteries. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/totzero-receives-e15-million-european-innovation-council-accelerator-develop-circular-economy-lithium-ion-batteries-2023-mar-13_en
[3] tozero. (2023, March 13). tozero's chemical battery recycling process efficiently recovers high-purity lithium and graphite. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.totzero.com/news/totzeros-chemical-battery-recycling-process-efficiently-recovers-high-purity-lithium-and-graphite
[4] tozero. (2023, March 13). tozero's commercial demonstration plant in Gendorf is a milestone for the company and an important interim step in scaling its technology. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.totzero.com/news/totzeros-commercial-demonstration-plant-in-gendorf-is-a-milestone-for-the-company-and-an-important-interim-step-in-scaling-its-technology
[5] InfraServ Gendorf. (2023, February 13). tozero is a technological pioneer in the circular economy. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.infra-gendorf.de/news/totzero-ist-eine-technologische-pionierin-im-kreislaufwirtschaftsbereich
[6] tozero. (2023, March 13). tozero focuses on processing black mass instead of whole batteries, allowing it to concentrate on its technological core. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.totzero.com/news/totzero-focuses-on-processing-black-mass-instead-of-whole-batteries-allowing-it-to-concentrate-on-its-technological-core
The demonstration plant in Gendorf, Germany, will employ tozero's revolutionary chemical recycling process that recovers over 80% of lithium and fully recycles graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries, exceeding industry standards and EU targets for 2031. This efficient process, a key contribution to environmental-science, aligns with finance opportunities through the European Union's EIC Accelerator program and positions tozero as a significant player in technology-driven renewable energy industry.
