In a significant move to bolster sustainable energy solutions, Altilium, a leading UK-based clean technology company specializing in sustainable lithium-ion battery materials, has secured a $5 million strategic investment from Marubeni Corporation. This funding, part of Altilium’s Series B round, will fuel the development of the UK’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling facility, set to be in Teesside. The plant, designed to process battery waste from 150,000 EVs annually, will produce 30,000 metric tons of low-carbon cathode active materials (CAM), essential for powering the next generation of electric vehicles.

The $5 million injection will enable Altilium to accelerate key stages of its facility's development, including advanced engineering studies, securing land, obtaining necessary permits, and recruiting leadership talent to manage the scale-up. The Teesside plant represents a cornerstone of Altilium’s mission to establish a closed-loop battery supply chain in the UK, creating a sustainable, locally sourced alternative to international supply chains that are heavily dependent on mining and shipping.

“This investment marks a transformative milestone in the UK’s green energy journey,” says Kamran Mahdavi, CEO of Altilium. “With Marubeni’s support, we are not only reducing reliance on imported materials but also advancing a clean, circular economy that contributes to the UK’s net-zero goals. Together, we are laying the foundation for a robust domestic supply of battery materials while minimizing environmental harm.”

Altilium’s proprietary EcoCathode™ technology is central to its strategy. By recovering over 95% of critical metals, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel, from end-of-life EV batteries, EcoCathode™ cuts both material costs by 20% and CO2 emissions by 74%. This breakthrough process offers a vital solution to the looming shortage of these precious metals, which are critical to the global transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.

This partnership with Marubeni builds upon a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2023, which outlined a shared vision for a closed-loop EV battery recycling ecosystem in the UK. Marubeni, with its decades of expertise in the global energy and materials sectors, will play an instrumental role in shaping this ambitious project. Altilium’s goal is to meet 20% of the UK’s CAM needs by 2030, reducing the country’s dependence on volatile global supply chains while positioning itself as a leader in the sustainable energy space.

Marubeni’s commitment aligns with its Mid-Term Management Strategy GC2024, which prioritizes sustainability and supports the creation of resilient supply chains for critical materials. The partnership strengthens Marubeni’s strategic role in advancing green technologies, especially in the battery materials sector, which is crucial to achieving a decarbonized society.

This new capital comes on the heels of Altilium’s successful $12 million Series A funding from SQM Lithium Ventures, positioning the company as a significant player in Europe’s battery recycling landscape. Altilium’s operational footprint, which includes a mini-commercial plant in Plymouth, will scale rapidly as the Teesside facility begins operations, cementing its role as a linchpin in the UK’s growing green economy.

Altilium’s partnership with Marubeni underscores the accelerating global momentum toward sustainable battery production and recycling, positioning both companies at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution.