Princeton NuEnergy Breaks Ground on United States’ First Commercial-Scale Lithium-ion Battery Direct Recycling Plant
In a major stride towards revolutionizing the energy sector, Princeton NuEnergy (PNE) has inaugurated its flagship advanced recycling facility in Chester County, South Carolina. The plant is poised to boost the circular economy for batteries as it is the first commercial-scale lithium-ion battery direct recycling facility in the country.
Direct Recycling – A Disruptive Technology
When operational, the plant is projected to manufacture more than 10,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade cathode material, equivalent to manufacturing over 100,000 EV batteries annually. PNE’s patented Low-Temperature, Plasma-Assisted Separation Process (LPAS™) will be employed in the recovery of more than 95 percent of lithium-ion materials available in all lithium-ion battery chemistries.
This technology not only offers a cleaner, speedier, and more cost-effective solution than standard recycling or virgin cathode production, but also significantly minimizes environmental waste.
The Circular Battery Economy
The launch of PNE’s facility marks a pivotal moment in America’s circular battery economy. The concept of a circular battery economy emphasizes on keeping materials within the country from their creation to the end-of-life recycling and remanufacturing. Consequently, all battery feedstock, which comprises various consumer and industrial goods ranging from mobile phones and computers to batteries from children’s toys, electric vehicles, and industrial energy storage facilities, will now be processed and recycled domestically.
This landmark endeavor follows PNE’s successful close of a Series A round at $30 million, and the company being listed as one of the “America’s Top Greentech Companies 2024” by Time Magazine.
About Princeton NuEnergy
Founded at Princeton University, Princeton NuEnergy (PNE) is leading the charge in lithium-ion battery direct recycling, thereby enhancing America’s circular battery economy.
Accredited as one of the “America’s Top Greentech Companies 2024” by Time Magazine, PNE’s patented LPAS™ technology significantly reduces both the cost, by up to 40 percent, and the environmental footprint, by up to 70 percent, of lithium-ion battery recycling compared to conventional methods.
With an impressive $55 million raised in grants, strategic, and venture funding, PNE’s pioneering approach continues to usher in a new era of effective and eco-friendly energy management.
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
