Building a European Battery Materials Value Chain

Map of the sites
In February 2020, BASF selected Schwarzheide, Germany for cathode active materials CAM production in Europe, enabling the supply of cathode active material for approximately 20 GWh of cell capacity per year. The Schwarzheide production plant uses an industry-leading energy mix with a low CO2 footprint and is gradually being commissioned since year-end 2022.
In 2023, we plan to start up a prototype recycling plant in Schwarzheide, Germany, using a proprietary BASF process with leading recovery rates and a low CO2 footprint.
In addition, BASF plans to start up a commercial-scale battery recycling plant for the production of black mass in 2024. It will mechanically treat end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and scrap from battery production before valuable metals can be chemically extracted. With both recycling plants, BASF aims to further increase the sustainability of the battery value chain - from the collection of used batteries and the recovery of mineral raw materials to their use in the production of new battery materials.
Moreover, BASF is working on the integration of the production plant in Harjavalta, Finland, for the supply of precursors of cathode active materials.

Reducing the CO2 footprint
BASF's investments in Europe help customers keep the carbon footprint through the value chain as low as possible. Our cathode active materials have an industry leading low CO2 impact.
Thanks to our efficient manufacturing process, the high share of renewable energy, the upstream integration into the key raw materials like Cobalt and Nickel, as well as the short transportation route along the value chain we are able to reduce the CO2 footprint significantly compared to benchmark players.
With the development of innovative processes for recycling battery raw materials, all these will enable us to close the loop and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.