U.S. Battery Recycling Progresses with PNE's Leading South Carolina Reclamation Plant
Princeton NuEnergy Inc. (PNE), a US-based company headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, has launched its Advanced Black Mass (ABM) recycling production facility in Chester, South Carolina. This facility is the nation's first commercial-scale Advanced Black Mass and battery-grade cathode active material production facility, supporting both NCM and LFP chemistries[1][2][3].
The facility, which began operations in August 2025, has a current capacity of 5,000 tons per annum (tpa) and plans to expand to 15,000 tpa by 2026 and ultimately to 50,000 tpa as market demand grows[3][4]. The flagship plant demonstrates domestic regeneration and production of critical battery minerals, helping secure the U.S. battery supply chain and advancing the national battery circular economy[1][2][3].
The Chester facility operates under strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure safety, traceability, and material quality[1][4]. It is fully permitted and compliant with all environmental and regulatory standards, ensuring product safety, traceability, and material quality[1][4]. The facility's operation marks a significant step forward in advancing the US battery circular economy.
The facility's proprietary advanced recycling process produces a consistent, high-purity Advanced Black Mass from manufacturing scrap[5]. This process has achieved a breakthrough recycling yield exceeding 97%, which surpasses industry norms and significantly reduces environmental impact compared to traditional methods[3][4].
The Chester facility is not only the company's flagship recycling facility but also operates a joint pilot facility with a co-located partner in McKinney, Texas for advancing direct recycling technologies and capabilities[6]. The Materials Testing Center in Princeton provides a critical resource to accelerate United States battery manufacturing[7].
PNE's Chester facility is a major advancement in the battery supply chain space. Dr. Chao Yan, Co-Founder and CEO of PNE, stated that the facility demonstrates the US's ability to lead in battery materials recovery and manufacturing[8]. Dr. Yan also mentioned that the facility is a major advancement in the battery supply chain space[8].
The facility's impact on the U.S. battery circular economy includes:
- Providing a high-purity recycled material feedstock critical for electric vehicle and energy storage battery manufacturing[1][3].
- Supporting sustainability by reducing reliance on imported critical minerals and lowering the environmental footprint of battery production[3][4].
- Helping to establish a circular supply chain that recovers and rejuvenates valuable materials domestically, advancing resource efficiency and energy transition goals[1][4].
- Attracting significant strategic investment from leading corporations (Honda, Samsung, Shell Ventures, etc.) and government funding exceeding $55 million[1].
In summary, Princeton NuEnergy’s Chester facility is a pivotal development in the U.S. battery circular economy, enabling high-yield, environmentally compliant recycling of lithium-ion batteries and moving the nation toward self-reliance in critical battery materials manufacturing[1][3][4]. The facility, located in Princeton, New Jersey, is part of PNE's global leadership in lithium-ion battery direct recycling, materials rejuvenation, and cathode manufacturing.
- The operations at Princeton NuEnergy's Advanced Black Mass recycling facility in Chester, South Carolina, are not only advancing the US battery circular economy, but also the environmental-science sector, as the facility's proprietary recycling process achieved a breakthrough yield exceeding 97%, reducing environmental impact compared to traditional methods.
- The growth and expansion of Princeton NuEnergy's flagship facility, such as the increase from 5,000 tons per annum (tpa) to 50,000 tpa, will not only have an impact on the science behind battery technology, but also finance, as strategic investments from leading corporations like Honda, Samsung, and Shell Ventures, and government funding exceeding $55 million are attracted by such advancements in the industry.
