USA: Aqua Metals Has a First Licencee for its Battery Recycling Technology

Irish-based international concern Johnson Controls International plc (JCI), one of the biggest providers of automotive batteries, has finalized an agreement covering North America, China and Europe for a cutting-edge electrochemical battery recycling technology. Under terms of a multi-faceted deal, the concern is investing in Aqua Metals.

According to Dr. Stephen Clarke, chairman and CEO of the company, the partnership with Johnson Controls “is a tremendous step forward and is an opportunity for us to work with the global leader in automotive battery manufacturing and responsible recycling”.

Under the agreement Johnson Controls will become the first licensee for AquaRefining technology, supply Aqua Metals with batteries to recycle as a service as part of the Johnson Controls closed-loop network, purchase AquaRefined metals produced from Aqua Metals’ facilities and acquire just under 5 percent of the company’s outstanding shares. Aqua Metals, which recently opened its first plant in McCarran, Nevada, uses an electrochemical process for recycling batteries. As reported, the company recycles lead with its patent-pending AquaRefining technology. “Unlike smelting, AquaRefining is a room temperature, water-based process that is fundamentally non-polluting. These modular systems allow the lead-acid battery industry to simultaneously improve environmental impact and scale production to meet rapidly growing demand,” Aqua Metals underlined.

www.aquametals.com

Photo: Marc Weigert

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