Cirba Solutions receives $75 million grant to boost LIB recycling capacity

Cirba Solutions will receive approximately $75 million in federal funds to expand critical mineral upgrading assets at its lithium-ion battery (LIB) processing facility in Lancaster, Ohio, as part of President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law.

The funding, announced by the Department of Energy (DOE), is the first phase of more than $7 billion in total funding provided by the infrastructure law for the battery supply chain. The DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) is responsible for strengthening and securing manufacturing and energy supply chains needed to modernize the nation’s energy infrastructure and support clean and equitable energy transition.

The MESC says it will manage the portfolio of projects with support from the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office.

At full operation, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Cirba Solutions says its 150,000-square-foot Lancaster facility will produce enough battery-grade critical minerals used in cathode production to power more than 200,000 new electric vehicles (EVs) annually. In addition to creating an estimated 150 jobs in the greater Lancaster area, the company says the facility will become one of the largest commercial-scale battery recycling facilities in North America.

Prior to the federal funding award, Cirba announced a commitment to invest more than $200 million to expand the Lancaster facility, which will collect, disassemble, shred and upgrade the critical minerals from LIBs to be reused in the production of new LIBs.

“This is truly a remarkable time for manufacturing in America, as President Biden’s agenda and historic investments supercharge the private sector to ensure our clean energy future is American-made,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm says. “Producing advanced batteries and components here at home will accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels to meet the strong demand for electric vehicles, creating more good-paying jobs across the country.”

Back in September, Cirba announced its plan to construct a 75,000-square-foot facility in Eloy, Arizona, to recycle LIBs. The company says that facility is expected to process enough battery material to power 50,000 EVs per year. Cirba says it aims to increase its LIB processing capacity by around 600 percent over the next few years and open several new processing facilities throughout North America.

Currently, the company has six active facilities processing all battery chemistries.

“The funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help strengthen the United States domestic lithium-ion battery supply chain for the EV market and create a sustainable supply of the critical minerals used to make batteries,” Cirba President and CEO David Klanecky says. “The time and cost to mine and process new materials is significant, and the need for these battery materials is becoming increasingly urgent. Battery recycling is a viable solution to help meet the rising demand for EV batteries.”