The company welcomed representatives from Plymouth City Council and Devon County Council to the site, which will help to position Plymouth at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy transition and marks a significant milestone in Altilium’s mission to establish a domestic circular economy for the critical minerals needed to support the nation’s net zero goals.
Commissioning of the first-of-a-kind facility is expected in late 2026, with the creation of over 50 high-skilled jobs, spanning engineering, research and development and operations.
During a tour of the 174,000 square foot site, the delegation of senior council staff met with Altilium’s leadership team to see first-hand the progress at the facility, which will recover critical battery materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt from 24,000 EVsper year. These valuable materials will then be used for the production of new EV batteries in the UK, supporting industrial resilience, energy security and economic growth.
“It is fantastic to see Altilium continue its commitment to Plymouth, investing in more facilities to scale-up their innovative technology for sustainable recovery of critical minerals from EV batteries” said Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change at Plymouth City Council. “This is exactly the type of company we are keen to support as it is boosting the next generation of green, well-paid jobs for local residents. We look forward to the build out of this new facility.”
To date, Altilium has attracted £14 million in inward investment to the region, with major international backers including Chile’s SQMi, Japanese trading group Marubeni and Mizuho Bank. As part of its ongoing expansion plans and commitment to engaging with local communities, the founders are now offering local investors an opportunity to share in the company’s future success, through the upcoming launch of its Series B1 retail funding round.
The new funding raise will open to the public on 16th June and is in partnership with Republic Europe (formerly Seedrs), Europe’s leading online private investing platform.
“We’re proud to be investing in Plymouth an helping to build a new, sustainable industry in the region that supports jobs, innovation and the environment” added Dr Christian Marston. “Our ACT 3 facility is more than just a recycling plant, it’s a critical part of the UK’s clean energy future. We’re excited to grow our footprint in the South West and invite individuals to be part of this journey.”
Founded in 2020, Altilium has quickly grown into one of the leading clean technology companies in the South West, with teams working across three locations in Plymouth and Tavistock. The company now boasts over 50 employees, including over 20 scientists and engineers, and is actively engaging with local schools and universities to support talented local students with work experience opportunities and internships.
Altilium’s ACT 1 R&D technology centre opened in Tavistock 2022, with support from from Innovate UK, the Automotive Transformation Fund and Devon County Council’s Green Innovation Fund. Currently, the facility boasts multiple cutting-edge laboratories for recycling battery waste and production and testing of new battery materials. A larger ACT 2 pilot plant opened in Plymouth earlier this year, with capacity to produce larger volumes of battery materials for qualification with automotive OEMs.
With growing demand for EVs, governments and businesses across the world are racing to secure supplies of critical minerals, including lithium and nickel. Developing a secure domestic supply chain for these materials, by recycling end-of-life EV batteries and Gigafactory waste, not only reduces the UK’s reliance on imported minerals but also results in lower carbon emissions, making EVs even greener.
At a local level, Altilium’s expansion plans will play a crucial role in Plymouth’s commitment to sustainability, creating new green jobs and attracting international investment to the region. Plymouth City Council has pledged to make the city carbon neutral by 2030, exceeding the UK’s objective of net zero by 2050.
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