To understand how Fortum is advancing battery recycling in Europe, we spoke with Jaakko Savolainen, Commercial Director of Business Line Batteries at Fortum. The company is strategically expanding its operations across Europe, with key facilities located in Ikaalinen, Finland, and Kirchardt, Germany. These two pre-treatment sites handle the initial dismantling, discharging and mechanical processing of batteries from electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems. The third plant of Fortum in Harjavalta, Finland, serves as the technological core of the recycling chain. It is the largest hydrometallurgical battery material recycling plant in Europe.
From battery to reusable raw material
The process begins with the transportation of batteries to Fortum’s facilities. Once delivered, the batteries are stored until they can undergo pre-treatment and mechanical recycling, which results in a concentrated black mass. This black mass is then transported to Harjavalta for final chemical refining. The chemical plant in Harjavalta is fully automated, stands 20 meters tall, and adheres to some of the strictest environmental and chemical regulations in Europe.
According to Jaakko, the hydrometallurgical process was developed entirely in-house, produces no wastewater, and is powered by renewable energy. The chemicals used in the hydrometallurgical process are generated internally, allowing the plant to remain largely self-sufficient. At the heart of the system is a patented hydrometallurgical method, which includes chromatographic separation. Unlike some hydrometallurgical processes used in the industry, Fortum’s method does not produce sodium sulfate as a byproduct. In other hydrometallurgical recycling processes, sodium sulfate can be generated in large quantities and, if not treated further, can pose a significant risk to ecosystems. “From the very beginning, we designed the process to avoid problematic byproducts,” says Jaakko Savolainen. While some companies are exploring ways to convert sodium sulfate into fertilizers such as potassium sulfate, Fortum’s process avoids this issue entirely. Fortum recovers critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and lithium.
High-voltage batteries and stationary energy storage systems
Fortum’s recycling efforts are targeted not at consumer electronics or small-scale batteries, but at high-voltage batteries from electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems. These batteries typically use NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) and NCA (Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum) chemistries, which contain higher concentrations of critical raw materials like nickel, cobalt, and lithium. “These are the batteries that matter most in terms of value recovery and strategic impact,” explains Jaakko Savolainen. Fortum’s process is optimized to extract the maximum possible yield from these materials, supporting both economic viability and the EU’s goals for raw material independence.
New EU Battery Regulation
As Europe moves to implement the new EU Battery Regulation, Fortum sees both opportunity and complexity. On the positive side, the regulation introduces requirements for minimum recycled content in new batteries and creates waste classifications for different battery types, which Fortum views as critical steps toward a more circular economy. However, significant challenges remain. One of the most pressing is the lack of a harmonized methodology for calculating recycling efficiencies. “Right now, each recycling company interprets the rules differently, which creates confusion and uncertainty for recyclers and their partners”, explains Jaakko Savolainen. Another concern is the question of enforcement, how will member states ensure that the regulation is actually followed. The supervision mechanisms differ widely across the EU, and there is currently no unified system for verifying compliance, which Fortum sees as a potential weak spot.
Clear, harmonized criteria
Fortum supports the regulation’s requirement for a minimum share of recycled materials in new batteries, but emphasizes the need for clear, harmonized criteria and better oversight of national implementations. To address these challenges, Fortum has built a fully transparent tracking and reporting system that monitors the entire recycling process: from the arrival of the battery, through each treatment step, to the final material output. This level of documentation is not only essential for compliance, but also for the battery passport, where traceability and material origin are central.
Battery passport
Prepared for the battery passport, all materials entering and leaving Fortum’s facilities are tracked, documented, and reported, ensuring full traceability across the entire process. This transparency and technology have attracted strong partners, including Auto Recycling Nederland (ARN), a producer responsibility organization in the Netherlands. Since 2022, ARN has supplied high voltage batteries to Fortum, while Fortum handles pre-treatment and recycling. Depending on the origin and specifications, the batteries are processed at sites in either Finland or Germany. All ARN batteries go to Germany for pre-treatment.
But for Fortum, battery recycling is not only about meeting regulatory targets or developing efficient technology – it’s about building a circular economy rooted in Europe. Jaakko emphasizes that materials recovered in Europe should stay in Europe, contributing to a more resilient and sovereign supply chain for critical raw materials.
