Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development and Technology has extended a grant offer worth approximately €290 million to U.S.-based battery recycling company Ascend Elements to support the construction of a production facility for recycled cathode precursor materials. The site for the project has already been selected, but the company has not yet made a final investment decision.
The proposed plant will be built and operated solely by Ascend Elements and will use its proprietary hydro-to-cathode technology to manufacture sustainable nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) precursors from recycled lithium-ion batteries. It marks a significant expansion of the company’s European footprint, following its ongoing joint venture with Polish firm Elemental Strategic Metals, with whom it operates a recycling facility in Zawiercie.
See also: Ascend Elements to Launch Lithium Carbonate Production from Recycled Batteries in 2025
“This project is more than a strategic investment in cutting-edge battery materials production — it marks a critical step in transforming Europe’s battery materials landscape,” said Tomasz Poznar, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Commercial at Ascend Elements. “We aim to help bridge the growing gap in cathode precursor supply and contribute to the EU’s strategic net-zero goals by building a sustainable circular battery materials supply chain in the region.”
The offer, valued at around 1.22 billion Polish zloty, is described by the company as “one of the largest grants ever awarded by the Republic of Poland.” It comes at a time when Ascend Elements is scaling up its European operations amidst a pause in its U.S. expansion. Earlier this year, the company and the U.S. Department of Energy agreed to cancel a $164 million grant for its Hopkinsville, Kentucky facility, although construction there is expected to resume with a target completion date of late 2026.
See also: Ascend Elements and Elemental Strategic Metals Open EV Battery Recycling Plant in Poland
“The Polish government’s support is an important step in Ascend Elements’ European growth strategy,” said Linh Austin, President and CEO. “We are committed to building a sustainable supply chain for battery materials on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Pawel Pudlowski, Vice President at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, said the investment strengthens Poland’s role in the European battery supply chain and fosters regional development and technological cooperation. Ascend Elements also plans to scale up its recycled lithium carbonate operations across Europe and the U.S., supplying materials to global battery manufacturers.
Source: Ascend Element