At a recycling facility in Kovington, Georgia, workers grind dead batteries into a good dark powder. In the past, the factory has shipped this powder, known in the battery recycling industry as a black block Cobalt and Nickel. But now it maintains the black bloc on the site and treats it for its production Lithium carbonateIt is a decisive component to make new batteries to operate electric cars and store energy on the network.
from Nevada to ArkansasCompanies are racing to dig more lithium from the ground to meet the clean energy sector Increased appetite. But this battery recycling facility, owned by Massachusetts, is based Ascension elementsIt is the first new product for lithium carbonate in the country in years – the only source of recycled lithium carbonate in North America. The company ends the promotions to the Covington facility, which will allow it to produce up to 3000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually, starting this month. Currently, the only local source of lithium carbonate is a Mine In the silver peak, Nevada.
Since January, President Donald Trump I took a heavy hammer The efforts of the Biden administration to develop the clean energy industry in America. Trump’s administration has Grants and frozen loansand Feat for the main agenciesHe used executive procedures for Renewable energy projects and Reverse climate policies – Often in Lawy. At the same time, quoting the causes of economic and national security, Trump Seek to apply Efforts to produce more important minerals such as lithium in the United States. This is exactly what Emerging Li -ion battery Recycling industry It seeks to do it, which is why some of those familiar with the industry Premature About their future under Trump.
However, both batteries recycling are uncertain due It can be canceled By Congress because it seeks to reduce federal spending, and signs that Clean energy manufacturing boom fades.
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, which is conducting market research for companies in the supply of Lithium Ion batteries, said the batteries recycling in the “moment of forgetfulness”. They are “waiting to find out the next steps.”
To move from fossil fuels, the world needs a lot of large batteries that can operate EVS and store renewable energy for use when the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine. This need has already caused the demand for minerals inside the batteries to rise. End life batteries-from electric cars, electronic bicycles and mobile phones, and more-can provide minerals to help meet this demand during Reducing the need for devastating mining. It already occurs widely in China, where Most manufacture of Li -Ion battery in the world It happens and where they benefit from recycling companies Government supportive policies And a fixed stream of manufacturing scrap.
When the Biden Administration tried to manufacture clean energy on the beach, the pioneers of batteries in the United States announced the main expansion plans, by paying government funding and other incentives. During the era of former President Joe Biden, the US Energy Ministry, or the Ministry of Energy, Search and development initiatives launched To support the recycling of batteries and grant hundreds of millions of dollars from funding to companies that seek to expand operations. The Office of the Ministry of Energy loan program Display To lend Nearly $ 2.5 billion to two battery recycling companies.
The industry has also benefited from the tax credits that were identified or strengthened under the 2022 inflation law, which is the Axis of Biden Climate. In particular, and 45X Outanding Manufacturing Production Production Supports local production of critical minerals, including those of recycled materials. For batteries recycling, the incentive “has a direct effect on the bottom”, according to Roger Lin, Deputy Head of Government Affairs in ASCEND elements.
The Ministry of Energy did not respond to GRIS to comment on the state of granting and loans of Biden era to recycle batteries. But recycling players have been at least some federal support in Trump’s era.
In 2022, Ascending elements were granted $ 316 million, Ministry of Energy grant To help him build a second battery recycling factory in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. This grant, which will go towards building the capacity to make the battery Cathode “The materials of the recycled minerals are still active and are still active and are implemented,” Lin said, with the minimum impact of the change in management. Ascend Elements expects that the factory will come online in late 2026.
The American Battery Technology, Reno, based in Nevada, has told Nevada a similar story. In December Putting the finishing touches on the Ministry of Energy’s contract worth 144 million dollars To support the construction of the second battery recycling facility, which will extract and improve minerals at the battery level from scrap manufacturing and end -of -life batteries. This grant is still active with “lack of changes” since Trump’s inauguration, CEO Ryan Milsart said.
After a battery recycling, Cirba Solutions recently learned that a 200 million dollars for the Ministry of Energy grant To help him build a new battery recycling factory in Colombia, South Carolina, moving forward. At full capacity, this facility is expected to produce enough minerals at the battery level to supply half a million volts annually. Cirba Solutions still spend money from two previous grants, including a $ 75 million grant to expand the battery processing factory in Lancaster, Ohio.
“I think we are a lot with the priorities of the administration,” said Daniel Spaling, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at Cirba Solutions.
These priorities include the establishment of the United States as “the leading product and non -fuel metal processor”, and taking steps “to facilitate local metal production to the possible maximum,” executive Requests Trump signed it in January and March. Since critical minerals are used in many high -tech devices, including military weapons, it seems that the Trump administration believes that US national security depends on controlling their supply chains. It was also the battery recycling observant After Trump’s opening, their industry can help.
“Critical minerals are essential to creating a flexible energy economy in the United States, and resource recovery and recycling companies will continue an important role in providing another local source for these materials,” wrote Ajay Koshr, CEO of Li-CYCLE, at Li-Cycle, at another local company. Blog post A reaction to one of Trump’s executive orders to energy.
Lee course, which closed a $ 475 million loan With the Office of Loan Programs at the Ministry of Energy in November Facing possible bankruptcyShe did not respond to the request of Grist to comment.
While Biden’s approach to critical metal production was rooted in various financial incentives, Trump continued the same goal using the customs tariff – and by Try to track new mines. Although economists have criticized the unpredictable RAM for definitions, some batteries recycling companies are optimistic that they will benefit from increasing commercial restrictions. In particular, the recycling of the rising trade war with China – including recently border On exports of various critical minerals of the United States – as an additional evidence that new local sources are needed for these resources. (China is the world’s leading product for most of the main battery minerals.)
“There is an opportunity because reducing the amount that is imported from China … can really enhance” mineral production in other regions, including the United States, “said Browning.
Commercial restrictions between the United States and the main partners outside China may be more harmful. Today, Browning says, the recycling players in the United States often sell the black bloc they produce for refineries in South Korea, which does not produce enough locally to meet their ability to treat illusion Installment To secure materials from the outside. Trump duty 25 percent of the customs tariffs on Korean imports in April, before putting it on a 90 -day stop. If South Korea will implement revenge definitions in response, it may cut off the main revenue flow for the United States. However, the GRIT recycling companies noted that there is currently not a ban on export or definitions that affect the black bloc, and confirmed its plans to raise local refining capabilities.
“The brief answer is that we see the definitions an opportunity to focus on local manufacturing,” said Seba Solutions.
While the recycling of batteries appears to be in line with Trump with a critical metal policy, and to some extent to trade, their interests differ when it comes to energy policy. Without a clean energy -making boom in the United States, there will be a much lower need to recycle the battery.
Today, approximately 40 percent of the materials available to the owners of batteries in the United States are the production scrap of the battery Gigafactories, according to the standard data. 15 per cent consists of the last of the EV batteries that have reached the end of their lives or called, while the storage of the network and Micromobility (such as electronic cycling batteries) represents 14 percent. The remaining third of the substances available for treatment is portable batteries, such as those in consumer electronics.
In the future, with more EVS to the end of their lives, a larger part of the battery scrap of the clean energy sector will come. If a large number of manufacturing facilities for batteries and planning in the coming years are canceled – due to the abolition of the incentives of the law to reduce inflation, the federal financing industry, the high costs of the project, or perhaps the three – may be forced to expand its ambitions as well.
Budget bill that The house passed In May, it would retract a number of provisions of the main inflation law. Some tax credits for clean energy, such as EV, will be canceled at the end of this year. It was legislation kindness To the 45X manufacturing credit, this scheduling in 2031 instead of the current gradual disposal date for 2032. But the bill may face Big changes In the Senate before heading to the Trump office, perhaps by July 4.
Despite the uncertainty about the fate of the tax credits in the Irish Republic 14 billion dollars Among the United States is clean energy projects, according to the E2 Clean Technology Defense Group.
While the battery recycling speaks with Grist in a brave face in the second period of Trump, some also look forward to hedging from their bets. Since Ascending elements increase the production of lithium in Georgia, it has lined at least one buyer outside the battery supply chain. Battle industry accounts Almost 90 percent For the demand for lithium worldwide, but the metal is also used in various industrial applications, including ceramic and glass.
Lynn said the merger into the EV battery supply chain remains the “ultimate goal.” “But we are looking into other plans to ensure … the continuation of the economic feasibility of the process.”
This article was originally appeared in Barrier in https://grist.org/technology/trump-battery-recycling-lithium-grits-funding-tarifs-ira-tax-credits/. Grist is a non -profit and independent media organization dedicated to the novel of climate solution stories and a just future. Learn more in Grist.org.
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