Hydrovolt signs agreement on end-of-life recycling with Posco and Mitsui

Hydrovolt signs a memorandum of understanding with Posco HY Clean Metal, a South Korean based company, to process and refine black mass from end-of-life batteries into battery-grade materials enabling sustainable battery cell production and Mitsui & Co., a Japanese based company, is a global trading and investment company.

After a successful collaboration with Posco HY Clean Metal facilitated by Mitsui on the supply of black mass, this MoU pursues a commitment to promoting the sustainability and circularity of black mass; a powder recovered from the active battery component containing materials like lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, and graphite.

“Posco HY Clean Metal is currently one of the main, international processors of black mass, and we are pleased to work closely with a company bringing recycled materials back into the battery value chain to ensure circularity,” says Hans Bjerkaas, Chief Commercial and Development Officer in Hydrovolt.

A chemical refinement process called hydrometallurgical treatment is required to transform the black mass to battery-grade materials that can be used in producing new batteries with the highest possible recycled content and lowest environmental footprint.

Oh Kae-hee, CEO of POSCO-HY Clean Metal, said, "We are very pleased to strengthen our collaboration with Hydrovolt, a leading battery recycling company in Northern Europe, and we expect this will enhance our ability to respond to changes in the global raw materials market environment."

End-of-life recycling ensures resource recovery, enabling materials to be reused or repurposed instead of being disposed of in landfills. These processes help meet the growing demand for sustainable battery materials while reducing waste and reducing environmental impacts.

This strategic partnership pursues a willingness to cooperate for the next years. The black mass will be used for Posco group’s cathode production, ensuring that the recovered, strategic raw materials will go into new electric vehicle batteries.

Posco HY Clean Metal is a joint venture battery recycling company established in 2021, specializing in extracting high-purity lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese from battery waste. Located in a South Korean industrial park, it processes 12,000 tonnes of black mass annually for Posco’s cathode production, supporting a circular battery supply chain.