In Huai’an, Jiangsu Province, a significant battery recycling project has been launched, aimed at processing 300,000 tons of spent batteries. Recently, Baishike New Energy (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. officially signed a contract for the “High-Value Utilization Zero Carbon Plant Project” with a total investment of 3.2 billion yuan. This project, located in the Huai’an Industrial Park, marks a new phase in the collaborative development of the new energy industry in the Yangtze River Delta.
The project spans an area of 380 acres and, once completed, will achieve an annual processing capacity of 300,000 tons of retired power batteries, producing 20,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate and 100,000 tons of regenerated battery-grade iron phosphate. Additionally, it will efficiently utilize photovoltaic and energy storage systems to optimize the energy structure. When fully operational, the project is expected to generate an annual output value exceeding 4 billion yuan, significantly enhancing the competitiveness of the regional circular economy.
The project will also incorporate an intelligent IoT management system, utilizing digital twin technology to optimize energy structures and reduce unit product energy consumption by 27% compared to industry standards. Used batteries are often referred to as “urban mines,” containing valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese that can be recycled for battery production or other applications, thereby promoting resource recycling and reducing reliance on primary mineral resources.
Typically, power batteries have a lifespan of 5 to 8 years. Based on projections from the second cycle between 2020 and 2022, a new wave of power battery retirements is anticipated by 2025. Coupled with the recent “trade-in” subsidy policy introduced by the State Council, the battery recycling and comprehensive utilization industry in China is poised for rapid growth as a significant number of power batteries are retired. Jiangsu, being a major province in the production and sales of new energy vehicles and lithium batteries, is no exception.
As of now, Jiangsu has over 170 companies in the power battery industry chain, including prominent names like Jiangsu Times, SAIC Times, AVIC Lithium Battery, and Hive Energy. Eight of the top ten companies in the domestic power battery market have established R&D centers or industrial bases in Jiangsu. The lithium battery industry distribution in Jiangsu has formed a collaborative development pattern centered around Changzhou and Nanjing, supported by material and equipment bases in Wuxi and Nantong, as well as multiple support from Yancheng, Suzhou, and Zhenjiang. This comprehensive layout significantly enhances the industrial cluster effect and provides a robust foundation for the development of battery recycling.
Currently, Jiangsu occupies seven positions on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s list of enterprises meeting the “Comprehensive Utilization Industry Norms for Waste Power Batteries.” Among these, six have been approved for stepwise utilization, and one for regeneration utilization. The action plan for building a circular economy demonstration zone for power batteries in the Su-Xi-Chang corridor emphasizes an efficient closed-loop system from production to regeneration through a division of labor model: “Changzhou manufactures batteries, Wuxi recycles materials, and Suzhou manages recovery.”
Amidst the global competition for the “dual carbon” strategy, a profound transformation aimed at shaping a green future is quietly unfolding at the end of the industrial chain. Jiangsu is expected to stand out in the new round of competition with its leading power battery production capacity, contributing significantly to the development of the national power battery recycling industry.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/jiangsu-huaian-launches-300000-ton-battery-recycling-project-to-boost-circular-economy/
