SK tes (formerly TES-AMM), a global technology lifecycle management company, operates a state-of-the-art battery recycling facility in Grenoble, France. Utilising proprietary hydrometallurgical processes, SK tes efficiently recovers valuable materials from end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries, achieving high purity levels suitable for reuse in battery production. This approach not only minimises environmental impact but also contributes to a circular economy by reintegrating recovered materials into the supply chain.

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles has led to an increasing volume of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. Traditional recycling methods often fall short in recovering high-purity materials, leading to resource wastage and environmental concerns. Additionally, the complexity of battery pack designs poses challenges in efficient disassembly and material separation.

SK tes addresses these challenges through a comprehensive recycling process:

- Safe disassembly: Battery packs are safely discharged and manually disassembled to extract modules and components.​

- Material separation: Components like casings, cables, and cooling systems are sorted and recycled through TES's global network.​

- Assessment for reuse: Modules with sufficient State of Health (SoH) are identified for potential reuse.​

- Hydrometallurgical processing: Remaining modules are processed in an inert atmosphere to prevent environmental contamination. The proprietary hydrometallurgical process recovers materials like graphite, cobalt, nickel, and manganese with up to 99% purity.​

- Integration into supply chain: Recovered materials are reintegrated into the battery manufacturing supply chain, promoting resource efficiency.​

High recovery rates: The Grenoble facility handles 14 tons of lithium-ion batteries daily, achieving over 90% recovery rates.​

Purity standards: Recovered cobalt and lithium reach up to 99% purity, suitable for new battery production.​

Environmental impact: The low-energy, low-emission process minimises environmental footprint, aligning with sustainability goals.​

Global expansion: SK tes has expanded its operations, including opening Southeast Asia's first battery recycling facility and planning a new plant in Rotterdam.​

The information in this case study has been adapted from an in-depth Circular Business Case by the EU-funded BatteReverse initiative. Read it here.