Zhejiang Yiwu’s 50,000-Ton EV Battery Recycling Project Officially Launched, Boosting Green Development of the NEV Industry
Recently, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment officially announced the public participation information for the environmental impact assessment of Zhejiang Zhongshen Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.’s annual recycling project for 50,000 tons of new energy vehicle (NEV) batteries. This marks the project’s entry into substantive advancement.
Located in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, the project will utilize 50 acres of existing industrial land with a total investment of 350 million RMB. Zhejiang Zhongshen Environmental Technology plans to introduce advanced international equipment, including an automated battery pack disassembly line, primary harmless crushing line, grinding and crushing line, and modern auxiliary facilities such as intelligent AGVs, traceability systems, and automated testing devices. The goal is to establish an efficient and environmentally friendly battery recycling and processing system.
Upon completion, the project is expected to create over 90 jobs, operate 330 days per year under a single-shift system, and achieve an annual recycling capacity of 50,000 tons of retired NEV batteries. This initiative not only alleviates environmental pressures brought on by the wave of retiring NEV batteries but also injects new vitality into the local economy. Once operational, the project is projected to generate an annual industrial output value of 1.265 billion RMB, total tax revenue of 65.97 million RMB, and total profits of 91.94 million RMB.
In response to the challenges of recycling retired NEV batteries, the Zhejiang Development Planning Institute has made several recommendations to the provincial government. These include:
- Coordinated planning to strengthen and extend the recycling industry chain.
- Improving the recycling system and exploring full life-cycle traceability management.
- Enhancing capacity building to standardize and regulate the industry.
- Strengthening policy support to accelerate the development of the recycling industry.
- Deepening international cooperation to address green trade barriers.
To ensure the sustainable development of battery recycling enterprises, continuous technological innovation and breakthroughs are essential. It is crucial to encourage companies to adopt unified battery types and standards, making battery recycling and reuse more efficient from the source.
Given the challenges posed by the diverse battery types and small batches, intelligent flexible disassembly technologies and automated adhesive removal techniques are recommended to address dismantling difficulties effectively. Additionally, fast detection, sorting, grouping, and safety control technologies are needed to resolve challenges in battery repurposing.
Given the significant social and environmental value of the project, relevant authorities are advised to support the sector through special grants, funding assistance, and policy subsidies. They should also promote innovative business models and support the establishment of a standardized, transparent, and shared recycling and trading system for retired NEV batteries. This includes developing a multi-layered online and offline recycling network to enhance corporate profitability and sector sustainability.
Source: Zhejiang Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, First Power Battery Recycling
