Cirba Solutions, one of the leader in battery recycling and materials management, is set to negotiate an award of up to $200m from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support the development of a cutting-edge lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Columbia, South Carolina.
The announcement comes from the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) and marks a significant step toward establishing a domestic closed-loop supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The new facility will focus on recycling lithium-ion batteries sourced from end-of-life EVs, energy storage systems, and manufacturing scrap.
Once fully operational, the lithium-ion battery recycling plant will have the capacity to process more than 60,000 tonnes of batteries annually, producing battery-grade salts for up to 500,000 EVs per year.
This will play a crucial role in addressing the increasing demand for EV batteries while promoting sustainability through battery recycling.
Beyond the environmental benefits, the 200-acre lithium-ion battery recycling facility is expected to generate over 300 full-time jobs in Columbia, along with 650 construction positions, providing a significant economic boost to the region.
The Columbia plant is part of a broader national effort to enhance domestic lithium-ion battery recycling capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.
Cirba Solutions’ CEO, David Klanecky, emphasised the importance of the project: “This project advances the growth trajectory Cirba Solutions is on, working to expand lithium-ion battery recycling capacity in order to achieve a closed-loop domestic supply chain. The funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides us with a vital opportunity to increase capacity through the sourcing and processing of these critical materials in a responsible and sustainable way.
“It will help strengthen our nation’s supply chains, accelerate accessibility to critical battery-grade metals for new battery production and help to establish our country as a true competitor in the global battery industry, all while enhancing energy independence and national security.”