Redwood combines recycling, refining and remanufacturing to produce and return battery materials to U.S. battery cell manufacturers. Redwood takes in end-of-life batteries, breaks them down to their basic metals (like nickel, copper, cobalt, and lithium) and then rebuilds those metals into cathode and anode products, the most critical and expensive components in an EV.
Localizing the production of critical battery components and ensuring these materials are recycled is the only way to drive down costs, emissions, and geopolitical risks while meeting U.S. battery and electrification demand.
Currently, anode and cathode components are not produced in North America, and battery cell manufacturers have to source them via a 50,000+ mile global supply chain. As a result, U.S. battery manufacturers will spend more than $150B overseas on these components by 2030.
A new manufacturing corridor from Michigan to Georgia is becoming known as America’s “Battery Belt” and is where hundreds of GWh a year of battery cell production capacity will be built and start operating between now and 2030. Yet, unless metals like lithium and nickel are produced and refined and remain in country for domestic anode and cathode manufacturing at scale, these American battery cell facilities will have to continually source the majority of their components, predominantly from Asia. This will send most (50-75 percent) of the economic value and job creation overseas.
Redwood is planning their next Battery Materials Campus, in the heart of the “Battery Belt,” just outside of Charleston, South Carolina. At Camp Hall in Berkeley County, Redwood will recycle, refine and manufacture anode and cathode components on more than 600 acres, creating more than 1,500 jobs and investing $3.5 billion in the local community. Eventually, this campus will produce 100 GWh of cathode and anode components per year – enough to power more than one million EVs. However, this site also provides us the opportunity to expand our operations to potentially several hundred GWh annually to meet future demand.
They plan to break ground on the Carolina Campus in Q1 2023 and have their first recycling process running by the end of next year.
Similar to their Nevada operations, Redwood’s South Carolina operations will be 100 percent electric and won’t use any fossil fuel in their processes. They will source only zero emission, clean energy and their innovative plant design and manufacturing process will allow them to reduce the CO2 emissions associated with producing these components by about 80 percent compared to the current Asia-based supply chain that they’re dependent on for these crucial materials.
Redwood’s existing partners like Toyota, Volvo, Panasonic and Envision AESC have a strong foothold in this region, in addition to many other battery manufacturers.
With increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries, the ability to import raw materials, which they will also be able to refine on this site, presents a significant advantage. The Port of Charleston offers a top U.S. port for scale production. Additionally, this site will be served by rail access, adding to the fast and efficient logistics this state and site offers.
Published in the March 2023 Edition