PNE Launches Flagship Lithium Battery Recycling Facility in South Carolina

Photo Credit: Princeton NuEnergy Inc.

According to a recent announcement, Princeton NuEnergy Inc. (PNE), a U.S.-based pioneer in lithium-ion battery direct recycling and cathode material regeneration, has officially commenced operations at its flagship Advanced Black Mass (ABM™) recycling facility in Chester, South Carolina. This marks the first commercial-scale U.S. facility capable of both producing battery-grade cathode active material and processing black mass from manufacturing scrap — including both NCM and LFP chemistries.

As reported by PNE, the fully commissioned plant is now operational and meets all federal and state-level environmental and operational standards. It is designed to produce 5,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of high-purity ABM™ using the company’s proprietary direct recycling process. According to the company’s official website, the facility has already achieved a recovery yield exceeding 97%, significantly surpassing industry averages.

“In Chester, we demonstrate that the United States can lead in battery materials recovery and manufacturing — not years from now, but today,” said Dr. Chao Yan, PNE’s Co-Founder and CEO. “Our team’s execution has been exceptional, and this facility is our next major advancement in the battery supply chain space,” he added.

Located in Chester County, the site operates under strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure safety, traceability, and consistent material quality. Looking ahead, PNE plans to triple the facility’s capacity to 15,000 tpa by 2026, with scalable potential up to 50,000 tpa based on market demand.

In addition to its South Carolina operations, PNE is also scaling up its national infrastructure. The company currently runs a joint pilot facility in McKinney, Texas, focused on enhancing direct recycling technologies. Meanwhile, its recently opened Materials Testing Center in Princeton, New Jersey — reportedly the largest of its kind in the U.S. Northeast — provides third-party validation services and supports downstream application testing. This network of facilities reinforces PNE’s commitment to advancing a closed-loop battery material recovery ecosystem across the United States.

Source: PR Newswire