ACE Green Recycling (ACE) has signed a USD12 million equipment supply and licencing deal spanning 10 years with India’s Pondy Oxides & Chemicals Ltd to set up the world’s largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emission-free battery recycling facility in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India. The green technology start-up will licence its proprietary zero-emission lead battery recycling technology to India’s leading lead battery recycling company to recycle 40,000 tons of batteries which translates to around USD60 million every year.
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POCL has been in the metals, chemicals and battery recycling business for more than 27 years and is India’s first and only 3N7 Lead Brand registered on the London Metal Exchange (LME).
Traditionally, lead-acid battery recycling is via the smelting process, which involves operating temperatures of more than 1,000oC producing significant GHG emissions. Compared to smelting, ACE’s recycling technology operates at room temperature, runs using electricity, produces zero GHG, releases oxygen into the air, and minimises solid waste by more than 80%. The only process where ACE’s technology needs any external heat is during the final melting to make lead ingots. ACE has also developed solar-powered electric kettles to avoid the usage of any fossil fuel.
This technology will reduce the carbon footprint on a global scale as POCL exports their products to international customers in South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Middle East, the US and Europe. The lead-acid battery is a key element in the automotive industry while also playing a crucial role in the renewable power storage and telecommunications industry.
“As a leading global player and pioneer in Asia’s battery recycling industry, POCL is constantly investing in R&D and keeping abreast of the latest technologies to be in step with the industry and our customers’ ever-changing needs,” said Ashish Bansal, Managing Director, POCL. “ACE’s breakthrough technology will help us to stay ahead of the competition and at the same time positively contribute to making the global electrification drive climate positive.”
“Our collaboration with ACE is a positive headway into the green technology space. POCL endeavours to become the torchbearer of circular economy in India and be synonymous with recycling at every juncture,” said K. Kumaravel, Director of Finance, POCL.