The EU's largest battery recycling factory is now operating

The largest battery recycling factory in Europe is now operational. Hydrovolt, based in Fredrikstad, Norway, is a joint venture of aluminum producer Hydro and battery producer Northvolt.

The factory has the capacity to process 12,000 tons of batteries annually, roughly the size of the entire Norwegian end-of-life battery market. Hydrovolt can salvage 95% of the valuable materials found in batteries - plastics, copper, aluminum, and the black mass, which will help Northvolt' in its aim to use 50% recycled materials in its battery production by 2030.

Hydro, on the other hand, will use the recovered aluminum for recirculation into commercial-grade aluminum products.

Hydrovolt opened first in Norway due to the country's lead in EV adoption in Europe, but the venture has a long-term goal to expand to other European countries. It's set a target to recycle 70,000 tons of battery packs by 2025 and 300,000 tons by 2030.

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