With the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) and the continued development of renewable energy technologies, the demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is steadily increasing. During the Scrap Expo, held in Louisville on September 17 and 18, 2024, Stokkermill, a leader in recycling solutions innovation, demonstrated its commitment to solving the challenges of recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries by promoting sustainability and technological innovation.
Lithium-ion batteries, essential for electric vehicles, electronics and renewable energy storage systems, are generating an increasing amount of waste that requires sustainable disposal solutions. Managing used LIBs batteries presents several challenges, including high voltage, structural complexity, and risks related to safety and proper disposal. Stokkermill has developed advanced technologies to address these issues, focusing on the extraction of key components, including “black mass,” nonferrous metal fractions, copper, and aluminum.
The mechanical recovery process helps promote the circular economy by reducing environmental impact and facilitating the reuse of valuable materials in the production cycle. The solutions presented at the “Scrap Expo” trade show aim to combine technological innovation and sustainability, meeting the needs of a rapidly expanding sector.
Stokkermill also presented its solutions for solar panels disposal, a growth sector in which the company is breaking new ground. Stokkermill's facilities enable the separation of solar panel components, specifically, aluminum, silicon, glass, copper and plastic fractions such as EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate). The recycling of solar panels devised by Stokkermill is fully automatic, without where to debark the aluminum profile lining the PV panel.
These materials can be reintroduced into industry, furthering the development of a circular and efficient supply chain. Plant processing capacities range from 500 to over 2000 kg/h, adapting to different industrial needs. Considering that the average lifetime of a solar panel is about 10 years, it is expected that by 2030 more than 47 million tons of solar panels will need to be disposed of and, ideally, recycled. Currently, only a fraction of solar panels are actually recycled, but the percentage will need to improve rapidly to ensure the recovery of strategic materials and the sustainable future of the industry. Stokkermill, with its leadership and cutting-edge technology, is helping to fill this gap by developing solutions that meet today's and tomorrow's battery and solar panel recycling challenges.
