Toronto’s Li-Cycle, a leading global lithium-ion battery recycling company, has strengthened its partnerships with major battery energy storage system (BESS) providers across the United States, reinforcing its role in the country’s clean energy supply chain.
In 2024, Li-Cycle recycled over 100 MWh of energy from BESS partners—a 33% increase from the previous year. During Q4, BESS materials accounted for 27% of the company’s U.S. recycling feedstock, underscoring the growing demand for sustainable battery disposal solutions.
With the U.S. energy storage market expected to nearly double from 34.4 GWh in 2024 to 67.5 GWh by 2028, driven by grid-scale applications, Li-Cycle’s operations support domestic energy independence by recovering critical minerals for reuse.
“Li-Cycle’s BESS partnerships demonstrate how we can support the electrical grid by providing a valuable service,” said Ajay Kochhar, Li-Cycle President and CEO. “Data centers supporting AI applications have become a leading driver of electricity demand in the U.S. BESS is well suited to address this growing need, and Li-Cycle plays a key role by safely recycling these materials and recovering critical resources.”
Li-Cycle’s expertise in handling damaged battery modules and meeting strict recycling deadlines has been critical to its BESS customers. The company recently processed hazardous battery modules at its Arizona facility and assisted an environmental services firm in recycling 60 MWh of battery modules on an urgent timeline ahead of winter weather disruptions.
By offering efficient recycling solutions, Li-Cycle continues to reduce reliance on foreign mineral supplies while ensuring safe and sustainable end-of-life management for energy storage batteries.