CATL relies on cooperation for the green future: Zeng announces plans!

CATL relies on cooperation for the green future: Zeng announces plans!

Hongkong, China - dr. Robin Zeng, the chairman and managing director of Catl, recently presented his vision for a global transition to climate neutrality at the "Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange". He emphasized the importance of open cooperation and the role of Catl in industrial development, especially in emerging countries. As part of these initiatives, CATL plans to participate in the construction of factories and joint ventures with local partners to promote technology transfers. Zeng emphasized that CATL is ready to share advanced technologies to form local ecosystems and support partners on their way to climate neutrality. Companies in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are the focus, while Catl is already working on the development of an industrial value chain with Arun Plus in Thailand.

A central element of Catl strategy are comprehensive “zero-carbon tech” solutions, including innovative energy storage systems. An example of such a system is the 19 GWH battery storage system, which was designed for the "AI + Zero-Carbon" data center from Masdar in the VAE. The expansion of the charging infrastructure is also part of the plans to set up a total of 1,000 choco swap stations worldwide by the end of 2025 and to increase to 10,000 stations in the medium term.

recycling initiatives and circular economy

CATL is actively committed to developing a closed circulatory system in battery production. This includes the application, use and recycling of batteries, to which the subsidiary Brunp is significantly involved. Catl pursues the goal of establishing a sustainable battery value chain to support the global carbon neutrality goals. This is done, among other things, through strategic cooperation with automobile manufacturers and other important actors in the industry. So far, 296 standards in the area of ​​battery recycling have been published, with active participation in the wording and revision of a total of 405 standards.

with over 240 collection points for old batteries and a disposal capacity of 270,000 tons, Catl has large recycling capacities. The metal recovery rate for valuable raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and manganese, which is 99.6%, is particularly remarkable. This data prove the progress and use of CATL in the circular economy and waste avoidance.

look into the future: capacities and challenges in Europe

In the European context, the recycling of lithium-ion batteries is becoming increasingly relevant. According to current estimates, recycling capacities could increase to 330,000 tons per year by 2026. This expansion is urgently necessary because the forecast return quantities of recycled batteries will only be around 270,000 tons annually in the coming years. Another aspect is the structure of the recycling systems that are divided into "spokes" and "hubs", depending on the recycling depth. While the use of the used batteries takes place in the spokes, the actual preparation takes place in the centrally created hubs.

The challenges in European battery cycling are varied. Transport costs for lithium-ion batteries are considered high, especially since they are classified as dangerous goods. As a result, the transport of the so -called "black mass", which contains valuable materials, is less problematic. The integration of complex recycling processes and the need to regain less valuable raw materials such as graphite and manganese increase the requirements for the existing capacities.

Overall, Catl intends to further expand its production capacities at the international level, with recently announced investments in Europe, including a significant battery factory in Hungary and a new facility in Spain. The long-term objective is CO2 neutrality in the entire battery chain until 2035. These ambitious plans and innovations could significantly influence the future of energy supply and battery cycling.