Watercycle secures £3m grant for lithium recovery and refining project
The award funds half of the £6 million ReLiVE programme, which will build a UK demonstration line for battery-grade lithium from waste.
Moving from pilot work to a production line
ReLiVE is scheduled to begin in April 2027 and run for 36 months. Watercycle will lead the design, construction and operation of a pilot-to-demonstration facility using its Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallisation technology.
The project brings lithium recovery and refining together, using industrial wastewater and battery-recycling streams as feedstocks. Partners across the refining, battery and automotive industries will help assess whether the resulting salts meet battery-manufacturing requirements.
The grant comes through the UK Government’s DRIVE35 Scale Up Fund. Environmental and economic assessments will examine the process’s carbon footprint, wastewater benefits and potential production costs.
Use of funds
Design, build and operate a pilot-to-demonstration lithium production line
Demonstrate battery-grade lithium recovery and refining from waste streams
Assess environmental and economic performance