Hydrovolt, a leading European battery recycling and raw materials company, and NG Metall, a Nordic specialist in metal waste recycling, are pleased to announce their new partnership agreement with an aim to further enhance the recycling of high-voltage batteries.

The market for recycling used and waste batteries continues to grow with an expected surge in the Norwegian market in the near future. By recycling these batteries, the parties can play a crucial role in reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability in the automotive and battery industry.

"We are thrilled to announce our partnership agreement with a leading actor within recycling, NG Metall. This partnership will enable us to expand services within safe and efficient handling, storing and recycling of used batteries together with a likeminded actor," says Ole-Christen Enger, CEO of Hydrovolt.

The collaboration between Hydrovolt and NG Metall was established in 2024, focusing on the responsible recycling of high-voltage batteries. With Hydrovolt’s state-of-the-art recycling plant in Fredrikstad and NG Metal’s expertise and operational experience through car dismantling, the companies can leverage its high level of competence on safe and efficient handling, storage and recycling of used batteries to drive growth in the Nordic battery recycling industry.

“NG Metall sought an industry-leading solution for the secure, efficient, and traceable recycling of high-voltage batteries. A partnership with Hydrovolt was therefore a natural choice, as we consider them the leading player in this field. Additionally, we share the same core values, particularly regarding compliance and responsible business operations,” says Henrik Våraker-Johansen, COO i NG Metall.

By combining the companies’ knowledge and experience, they aim to develop and establish best practices in the industry. Together, they will work towards creating a circular economy for high-voltage batteries, ensuring their proper disposal and minimizing waste.

Amanda Gran | Head of Communication and Public Affairs, Hydrovolt | +47 90560611 | 


Helle Gaard | Head of Communication, NG Metall | +4741409460 | 

Hydrovolt is a battery recycling and raw materials company established in 2020. By pioneering battery recycling of EVs and industrial batteries, we create a circular solution for end-of-life batteries by recovering high quality and sustainable secondary raw materials. At Hydrovolt, no battery is ever wasted through our recycling solutions driven by our vision of a circular world. Hydrovolt is headquartered in Oslo while operating one of Europe’s largest EV battery recycling plants in Fredrikstad, Norway. See hydrovolt.com for more.


About Hydrovolt:

NG Metall is a leading player in the recycling of metals and electronic waste, with a strong focus on ensuring transparent and sustainable value chains. We specialize in receiving and recycling metals from various sources, including electronic waste, critical metals, and steel. By giving metals a new life, we contribute to a circular economy where resources can be reused over and over again. As part of NG Group, we set the standard for traceable and responsible recycling. With nine facilities across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, we are well-positioned to meet market demands. See ngmetall.no for more information.


About NG Metall:

Hydrovolt and NG Metall enter partnership agreement

Hydrovolt enters into a new research and development project with SINTEF and Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) focusing on the characterization of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries for improved recycling efficiency.

With the rapidly increasing electrification of the transport sector, there is a large need for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Most of these batteries from electric vehicles (EVs) have a typical lifespan of 15-20 years, meaning that there will be a rapid increase in the need for safe disposal and recycling of end-of-life LIBs in the coming decade.

With Hydrovolt’s two years of operational experience within battery recycling, it is clear that LIBs from different manufacturers exhibit different processing behavior. With limited available information on battery cell components, there is an urgent need for increasing knowledge related to this area to optimize battery recycling processes.

“The project aims to develop a novel approach and establish a toolbox for the characterization and categorization of end-of-life LIBs for recycling, enabling a recycling process with high reliability and predictability, maximizing material recovery rates and capacity utilization, says Christine Pettersen, Technical Expert in Hydrovolt & Project Lead of the project.

This will be achieved by utilizing IFE and SINTEFʼs combined materials expertise and advanced materials characterization infrastructure.

“We are thrilled to start this crucial research and development project with our excellent project partners in SINTEF and IFE. The results from the project will be key to better understand how we can optimize our operations and increase material recovery rates,” says Helge Refsum, Chief Technology Officer in Hydrovolt.

The project will lead to more efficient recycling processes for LIBs through acquiring a laboratory test line for crushing and sorting of the batteries. The results from the project will support the establishment of new operational procedures and ensure that a larger share of the critical raw materials will be reused in new applications and to the European battery industry.

Hydrovolt is investing 7 million NOK in the project, where half of the costs also were awarded as support from the Research Council of Norway in December 2024. The project will start in 2025 and last for two years.

More on the project call at Research Council of Norway 

Hydrovolt is a battery recycling and raw materials company established in 2020. By pioneering battery recycling of EVs and industrial batteries, we create a circular solution for end-of-life batteries by recovering high quality and sustainable secondary raw materials. At Hydrovolt, no battery is ever wasted through our recycling solutions driven by our vision of a circular world. Hydrovolt is headquartered in Oslo while operating one of Europe’s largest EV battery recycling plants in Fredrikstad, Norway. See hydrovolt.com for more.

SINTEF is one of Europe's largest research institutes, with multidisciplinary expertise within technology, natural sciences and social sciences. SINTEF is an independent foundation which, since 1950, has created innovation through development and research assignments for business and the public sector at home and abroad.

Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) is an independent international research foundation located in Norway at Kjeller and in Halden. IFE is in the forefront of several fields within international energy research, safety, environmental-, petroleum- and nuclear technology. IFE develops new technological solutions for industry and the public sector in more than 30 countries.

The Research Council of Norway is a national strategic body for research. It manages research funding from all the Norwegian ministries and allocates funds to basic and applied research and innovation within all fields and disciplines. The Research Council’s aim is to promote a society where research is created, used and shared, and thus contributes to restructuring and enhanced sustainability.

Hydrovolt teams up with SINTEF and IFE on new research and development project

The Norwegian Polytechnic Society is the knowledge-based membership network for sustainable technological and social development. Since 1852, they have been promoting interdisciplinary insight, inspiration, and influence.

Through their podcast series #PolyPod, they produce episodes on various topics within technology, sustainability and industry. In May 2024, our Chief Technology Officer participated in one episode on the recycling of batteries.

In this episode, you'll learn about the technology and market for battery recycling. You'll get practical examples of how waste management and the production of secondary raw materials lead to greener products with a 75% lower footprint. They also discuss the opportunities for Norwegian and Nordic success in a rapidly growing market for recycled batteries. At the end, you will also get some tips on what you can study and retrain within the green industry.

Helge Refsum, Chief Technology Officer, Hydrovolt

Mette Vågnes Eriksen, Secretary General, Polytechnical Association

https://www.polyteknisk.no/lytt-til-polypod-evighetsbatterier,

 or your preferred platform for listening (Only in Norwegian).


Hydrovolt on the #PolyPod discussing battery recycling solutions

The Norwegian Polytechnic Society is the knowledge-based membership network for sustainable technological and social development. Since 1852, they have been promoting interdisciplinary insight, inspiration, and influence.