Public Funding for Tiontech Ltd

The global distribution such as Lithium, Cobalt and Nickel is highly concentrated and showing characteristics of oligopoly. The prices of the above resources have also been showing a fluctuating upward trend. In the UK, these metals or the batteries all need to be imported in large quantities with a high degree of external dependence, which brings uncertainty to the electrification and net zero development goal on the long-term. Although LiBs contain valuable metals that can be refined, only very limited percentage of spent LiBs recycling goes on today globally. The majority ends up in landfill. Lithium-based battery has been judged by its recyclability in metal restoring because the high industrial cost and nonstandard technical process lead the recycling business hard to reach commercial break-even. Tiontech is a start-up SME focusing on EoL battery technology development. The company founder has 15 years' experience within the whole supply chain including battery technology R & D in Lithium-based and Lead-acid battery recycle as well as BMS and pack development of LiBs. This project aims to provide an efficient integrated and automated equipment for the end-of-life (EoL) lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) regeneration, based on the company's patented novel method which could bring back aged Li-ion cell's health/capacity (UK 2217221.7). Regenerating the LiBs to achieve a longer life will improve the lifetime economics and dilute the environmental impacts associated with raw material extraction and manufacturing. EoL LiBs contain a significant amount of rare and strategic metals that must be imported as the UK has no economically viable deposits. And thus, the project will create great value in environmental sustainability. Tiontech has developed the prototype lab equipment. An integrated automation machinery is crucial at this stage to demonstrate the method to the whole industry.