Panasonic will begin utilizing copper from recycled lithium-ion batteries provided by Redwood Materials later this year to make new lithium-ion batteries at its Nevada facility.
Copper foil, a critical component of a battery cell’s anode side, will be the first recycled item from Redwood. Typically, the anode is comprised of copper foil that has been graphite-coated.
Redwood Materials will begin manufacturing the copper foil in the first half of 2022, and Panasonic will begin utilizing it to create new lithium-ion batteries by the end of the year.
Redwood stated in September that it will establish a manufacturing facility in the United States to manufacture essential battery materials. It is now investing $2 billion in the construction of a $2 billion facility that will manufacture cathodes and anode foils at an annual capacity of 100 gigawatt-hours by 2025.
That is enough recycled-material batteries to power one million electric automobiles.
Redwood Materials recycles waste from the manufacturing of battery cells, as well as batteries from smartphones, laptop computers, power tools, power banks, scooters, and electric bicycles. It removes cobalt, nickel, and lithium and resells them to Panasonic and other clients for use in the manufacture of fresh cells.
Panasonic’s statement underscores the company’s commitment to use more recycled resources, which enables it to lessen its reliance on freshly mined raw materials. Additionally, it demonstrates Redwood’s ongoing expansion.
Reference- Redwood Materials website & PR, Panasonic website, TechCrunch, CNBC, Inside EVs