Lithium-ion batteries power every device we use, the EVs and hybrids we drive, and are the cornerstone of energy storage. To make a li-ion battery, you’ll need lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃), which is obtained by mining in the USA.
However, recycled lithium carbonate is becoming increasingly important as the world looks for sustainable ways to meet skyrocketing demand for new batteries to power the energy and transportation sectors. Moreover, recycling significantly reduces the environmental impact of traditional mining methods.
Ascend Elements’ new lithium recovery line represents a major step toward this goal, at least for US lithium carbonate manufacturing. The company has just announced plans to begin producing >99% pure, recycled lithium carbonate at its Covington, Georgia, facility in 2025.
The recycling plant will produce up to 3,000 metric tons of recycled lithium carbonate annually, marking the first commercial-scale operation of its kind in the U.S. Currently, the only domestic source of Li₂CO₃ is a mining operation in Nevada, making this new initiative a critical development for U.S. energy independence.
“This is the first new, domestic source of lithium carbonate in the 21st century,” said Eric Gratz, co-founder and CTO of Ascend Elements. “This new supply of a critical battery material will help U.S. industries meet growing demand while avoiding tariffs on imported materials.”
Still, the new plant is also significant for other advancements. For instance, the company’s recycling process is one of the most advanced globally and can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Notably, producing lithium carbonate from used lithium-ion batteries generates only 2.27 kg of CO₂ emissions per kilogram of Li₂CO₃, compared to 16.7 kg for spodumene mining and 3.6 kg for Chilean brine extraction. In addition, Ascend Elements’ patented Hydro-to-Cathode® technology efficiently transforms spent batteries into new cathode materials, further reducing costs and carbon emissions.
Ascend Elements says its new Covington plant can produce up to 30,000 metric tons of lithium-ion battery materials annually, equivalent to approximately 70,000 EV battery packs. This will be a serious boost to U.S. battery manufacturing, bringing it closer to China, which continues to be a dominant force in the sector.
