Aqua Metals, Inc., a pioneer in sustainable lithium battery recycling, announced an accelerated pathway intended to increase revenue and margin at its planned commercial-scale AquaRefining鈩� facility at the Tahoe-Reno industrial center. To streamline market entry, optimize capital efficiency, scale core patented and licensable technology, and meet evolving customer demands, the Company intends to prioritize the production of battery grade lithium carbonate, more than doubling the initial production targets. Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP), a widely traded, high-value nickel and cobalt product, along with copper and manganese, will make up the rest of its product suite at its Sierra ARC recycling campus.
This near-term focus should enable faster and larger revenue generation, additional technology validation at scale, and expanded industry partnership potential while maintaining a clear roadmap for scaling toward high-purity metal refining that will eventually complement the lithium carbonate production.
Aqua Metals has already proven its ability to recover battery grade lithium as well as high purity nickel and cobalt from spent batteries and manufacturing scrap at its pilot facility. By prioritizing lithium carbonate and MHP production, the Company believes it can accelerate commercialization, reduce remaining capital requirements to complete the Sierra ARC, and position itself as a key supplier of domestic, low-carbon, battery-grade materials. The scalable nature of AquaRefining鈩� is the basis upon which Aqua Metals believes that full metal refining remains within reach as part of future scaling. The Company will continue qualifying battery-grade materials with its pilot program and through ongoing engagements with OEMs, cell, and CAM manufacturers.
鈥淲e are taking a smart, market-driven approach that we believe will allow us to scale faster, generate revenue sooner, and strengthen our position in the domestic critical minerals supply chain,鈥� said Steve Cotton, CEO of Aqua Metals. 鈥淥ur proven technology can already refine MHP into pure metals, but prioritizing a higher-throughput facility should allow us to increase the production of our highest margin material, battery grade lithium carbonate. This plan is designed to accelerate commercialization while maintaining full compatibility with our long-term vision for battery-grade materials that close the loop domestically.鈥�