Iondrive Joins European Battery Recycling Consortium Backed by German Government Grant
Iondrive (ASX: ION) has joined a €3.1 million (A$5.5m) European consortium aimed at establishing a closed-loop battery recycling industry in Germany, supported by a €2.07m (A$3.7m) grant from the Government of North Rhine-Westphalia.
RWTH Aachen University is leading the initiative, which unites key participants across the battery materials supply chain, with Iondrive serving as the core technology partner responsible for processing black mass into high-purity battery-grade metals using its Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) method.
Chief executive officer Dr Ebbe Dommisse said the collaboration will validate Iondrive’s process with leading European automotive manufacturers while providing an early pathway into the continent’s recycling and materials markets.
Circular Battery Supply Chain
The consortium is seeking to demonstrate that batteries made from 80% sustainably recycled materials can perform on par with those using virgin metals.
Participating members include Accurec Recycling, NEUMAN & ESSER Process Technology, Constantia Patz of Constantia Flexibles, and PEM RWTH Aachen University.
Iondrive EU GmbH will process black mass supplied by Accurec into refined nickel, cobalt, lithium, and manganese, which it will then convert into materials for use in new battery cells that will undergo validation by automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) once they reach key technical milestones.
Dr Dommisse said the collaboration integrates the entire battery value chain from dismantling to cell production.
“The consortium not only provides an entry point into the European market but also potentially secures feedstock and downstream offtake opportunities,” he said.
Funding Structure And Project Scope
The consortium combines the €2.07m grant with €1.07m (A$1.91m) in co-funding from participants, including €265,000 (A$473,000) from Iondrive.
The funding package will reimburse 60% of Iondrive’s European pilot plant operating costs up to a maximum of €398,000 (A$710,000) while providing access to feedstock and validation services at no cost.
Projektträger Jülich will administer the three-year program on behalf of the NRW Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Transport.
Iondrive will retain full ownership of any improvements to its DES technology that arise from the collaboration.
Pilot Plant Progress And Strategic Outlook
Construction of Iondrive’s large-scale continuous DES pilot plant is underway at the University of Adelaide with support from a $3.9 million grant under the Australian government’s Industry Growth Program.
The company has scheduled commissioning for early 2026, after which it will ship the plant will to Germany for integration within the consortium.
Iondrive sees the European collaboration as complementary to its Australian development activities, positioning it as a technology leader in environmentally sustainable metal extraction and recycling.
Dr Dommisse said the project aligns with Europe’s push for energy independence and sustainable manufacturing.
“The consortium brings together the full value chain — from research and processing to end-users — which is essential for establishing a sovereign and sustainable battery materials industry in Europe,” he said.