2 min read - 15 Oct, 2025
Altilium opens UK’s first-of-a-kind EV battery recycling plant
Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group, has opened its ACT 2 EV battery recycling facility in Plymouth, the UK’s first-of-a-kind pilot plant dedicated to the sustainable recovery of critical battery materials from end-of-life EV batteries.
Public funding from the APC and Innovate UK has played a critical role in accelerating Altilium’s R&D and scale-up journey, helping to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and commercialisation and supporting the construction of ACT 2.
The commissioning of ACT 2 marks an important milestone in Altilium’s mission to create a closed-loop, low-carbon battery materials supply chain for the UK. Building on the company’s R&D success at its ACT 1 Technology Centre, the 18,000 square foot facility will validate Altilium’s proprietary recycling processes at pilot scale, enabling production and delivery of large volumes of battery-grade samples for automotive customers.
Altilium welcomes strategic partners and industry stakeholders to the opening of the UK’s first-of-a-kind EV battery recycling plant / Picture: Altilium
Altilium’s advanced EcoCathode™ process is capable of recovering over 95% of cathode metals, including lithium, nickel and cobalt, with up to 74% lower emissions than conventional mining. Cathode and anode materials recovered at the company’s ACT 1 facility have already been successfully integrated into the production of prototype EV battery cells, for validation with a leading OEM.
The ACT 2 pilot lays the foundation for the company’s new ACT 3 facility, currently under construction in Plymouth, and its planned ACT 4 mega-scale recycling and cathode active materials (CAM) production plant, which will lead to the creation of more than 250 highly skilled jobs.
Dr Christian Marston, Altilium COO, said: “We’re honoured to welcome so many distinguished guests here today to witness pilot-scale battery materials recycling in the UK. ACT 2 is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible team and the unwavering support of our partners, who share our vision for a more sustainable future. Together, we’re showcasing how UK industrial policy, combined with public and private finance, can deliver the clean industries of the future.”
A delegation of over 20 key investors and stakeholder senior executives attended the opening ceremony, including Altilium’s foundation investors Marubeni Corporation and Mizuho Bank, as well as the Japan Organisation for Metals & Energy Security (JOGMEC), the Embassy of Japan, and Export Development Canada.
Key UK government and public sector funding bodies were also present, including senior representatives from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), Innovate UK, the Department of Business & Trade (DBT), the National Wealth Fund (NWF), UK Export Finance, and Plymouth City Council.
