Team Blitz India
THE Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology, has entered into an agreement with Remine India Private Limited, for “Setting up a commercial plant for recycling of lithium-ion battery and ewaste using indigenous technology” at Sitarganj, district Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand.
Through the agreement, TDB has pledged a financial assistance of ₹ 7.5 crore out of the total project cost of ₹ 15 crore, marking a significant stride towards sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
The funded project entails the establishment of a commercial plant for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries and e-waste, leveraging indigenous technology developed by the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (CMET), Hyderabad. Recognised as a matter of national significance, the efficient recycling of lithium-ion batteries serves as a vital source of secondary raw material for cell manufacturing in the country.
The escalating imports of e-waste stemming from the disposal of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are driven by their growing utilisation in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and global renewable energy storage systems. However, the disposal of LIBs through landfilling and incineration poses environmental and safety concerns, highlighting the need for recycling initiatives. The potential for value creation through the retrieval of metals from spent LIBs has spurred interest in recycling ewaste generated by these batteries.
The lithium-ion battery recycling market size is projected to reach USD 14.89 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.6 per cent, up from USD 3.79 billion in 2021. Despite this, a significant 95 per cent of lithium-ion batteries end up in landfills, while only 5 per cent undergo recycling and reuse.
