Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted another investment in Kentucky’s rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) sector, as Ascend Elements and SK ecoplant have announced plans to locate a $65.8 million lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Christian County that will create 60 full time jobs.
The project to locate a 100,000 sq.ft. facility comes as part of a joint venture between Ascend Elements, SK ecoplant and its subsidiary, TES. Construction is expected to begin in November with completion scheduled for January 2025. The operation will annually produce around 12,000 metric tons of black mass.The black mass produced at the Hopkinsville facility will help supply Ascend Elements’ nearby Apex 1 engineered battery materials facility, an approximately $1 billion project announced in 2022 that is currently under construction. Apex 1 is on schedule to begin operation in 2024 and will be North America’s first sustainable cathode precursor (pCAM) and cathode active material (CAM) manufacturing facility. At full capacity, the Apex 1 project will produce enough pCAM for approximately 750,000 new EVs each year.
“With this joint venture, we are deepening our relationship with SK ecoplant and reaffirming our commitment to Southwestern Kentucky,” said Michael O’Kronley, chief executive officer of Ascend Elements. “The EV battery materials industry will continue to grow in the United States, and Kentucky is at the center of it all. I’d like to thank Gov. Beshear and his staff for their partnership as we work to accelerate the global transition to clean energy and bring good jobs to the community.”
Serving as the key player of SK Group’s green business, South Korea-based SK ecoplant changed its name from SK Engineering and Construction in May 2021 and expanded into an environmental energy solutions business. The company has undertaken more than 100 projects in various international locations. Its affiliated company, TES, is a global organization specializing in sustainable technology lifecycle services and e-waste recycling in Singapore, which operates 46 treatment facilities in 23 countries.