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New Plant in Meppen Processes 30 Thousand Tons Per Year, Recovers 96% of Materials and Strengthens the European Circular Economy.
The city of Meppen, in Lower Saxony, now houses the largest battery recycling plant in Europe. Operated by Re.Lion.Bat Circular GmbH, the new facility promises to transform the management of technological waste on the continent.
With an investment of € 30 million, the plant starts its operations with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons and a recovery rate of 96% of materials, establishing itself as a central piece in the European circular economy strategy.
Advanced Technology for Material Reuse
The structure occupies three industrial buildings in the Meppen park and processes up to four tons of batteries per hour. This includes batteries from electric vehicles to household appliances and portable tools, coming from all over Germany.
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The process begins with deep discharge of the batteries to eliminate electrical risks. Then, the materials go through an automated line that crushes, screens, separates, and classifies the components.
This chain of steps ensures that up to 96% of the elements can be reused, establishing a new standard of efficiency for the sector on the continent.
Schwarzmasse: The Heart of the Process
Among the recovered materials are copper, aluminum, and plastics, but the highlight is the so-called Schwarzmasse, or “black mass.” This dark powder contains nickel, cobalt, and lithium — essential elements for the manufacturing of new batteries.
Currently, the final treatment of Schwarzmasse still relies on units in Asia and North America. However, there are already projects underway to install specialized refineries on European soil, and Germany has created incentives to accelerate this stage.
The goal is to keep the entire production cycle within European borders.
Reducing External Dependency
The proposal from Re.Lion.Bat goes beyond recycling. CEO Christoph Spandau advocates for the creation of a closed European loop, where materials arriving on the continent remain and are reused locally.
According to him, this strategy aims to reduce dependence on third countries for obtaining critical raw materials. With prices and availability strongly influenced by geopolitics, the infrastructure in Meppen emerges as an alternative to ensure industrial resilience and stability in supply.
Maximum Safety Against Fires
Recycling lithium batteries involves high risks. To avoid incidents, the plant operates with enhanced safety protocols at all stages of logistics and processing.
Every truck that arrives is inspected by thermal cameras, and the environment is continuously monitored, 24 hours a day. Additionally, sensors track nitrogen levels in the air, an element used to reduce combustion risks.
The system also features sprinklers and special extinguishing agents designed to contain fires caused by batteries.
A Third of National Capacity
Until now, the largest plants in the country were in Wendeburg and Salzgitter, but none match the scale of the new facility in Meppen. According to data from Niedersachsen.next, the unit alone represents a third of the entire battery recycling capacity in Germany.
Currently, the operation runs in two daily shifts, processing about 60,000 batteries per year. There are plans to introduce a third shift, further increasing the volume of reuse.
This milestone positions Re.Lion.Bat as a central player in Germany’s green infrastructure, combining industrial scale, rigorous safety, and a commitment to the sovereignty of critical resources.
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