FCC Coverage, a subsidiary of FCC Environmental Services, and Iberdrola through The Perseo Venture Builder program will collaborate with Glencore to offer large-scale lithium-ion battery recycling solutions across the Iberian Peninsula. A jointly developed facility will be central to this effort, and the three partners conveyed the plan in a recent statement.
The collaboration will weave together each party’s strengths to deliver end-to-end management for incoming lithium batteries, including those arising from manufacturing waste and those reaching the end of their useful life. This integrated approach aims to close loops across the battery value chain and reduce waste while maximizing material recovery.
In partnership with the Iberian Energy Storage Research Center, known as CIIAE, the participants conducted an in-depth market assessment for battery recycling in the Iberian region. They also evaluated potential technology partners suited for installation, with site selection pending final decisions. The work laid the groundwork for identifying scalable solutions and aligning capabilities with regional needs.
The new facility will be operated by FCC Ámbito, focusing on pre-separation of lithium-ion cells to streamline downstream refining and material recovery processes. This phased approach helps accelerate recycling timelines and improve overall process efficiency while maintaining high safety and environmental standards.
As part of the alliance, the teams will work to establish strategic agreements that enable the effective recovery of lithium batteries and create positive upstream and downstream impacts for other participants along the value chain. The initiative will also drive research and development efforts to advance circularity and the sustainable use of critical materials.
The momentum toward widespread electric vehicle adoption is accelerating. Projections indicate a significant rise in battery recalls, with estimates suggesting in 2035 a volume of about 35,000 metric tons per year in Spain, signaling an urgent need for robust recycling capacity. This context reinforces the strategic importance of building a resilient, regional recycling ecosystem.
In response, the collaboration aims to develop an industrial facility on the peninsula ready to scale up as recycling capacities become essential. The partnership expands beyond battery recycling to include joint efforts in repurposing wind turbine blades, continuing the momentum of their previous collaboration through EnergyLoop and reinforcing a broader circular economy strategy.
This new initiative reinforces the view that the circular economy model is a pivotal lever for energy transition, a notion highlighted by the participants in the formal statement. The aim is to create a sustainable, closed-loop system where materials are recovered and reintroduced into production, reducing the need for virgin resources and lowering environmental impact across energy-related sectors.
One participant expressed enthusiasm about joining forces with Iberdrola, a recognized leader in renewable energy, and FCC Servicios Medio Ambiente, a leading waste management provider in Spain and Portugal. The collaboration demonstrates each company’s strength in advancing circularity within the lithium-ion battery ecosystem and their shared commitment to responsible resource management across borders.
Maria Jesus Kaifer, Technical Director and Head of Circular Economy at FCC Ámbito, noted that the collaboration aligns with strategic growth objectives and supports ongoing work on recycling solutions for materials tied to the energy transition. The initiative is framed as a central pillar of FCC Ámbito’s broader sustainability agenda.
Álvaro Portellano, president of the Perseo Venture Builder at Iberdrola, described the alliance as a valuable opportunity to contribute to Iberdrola’s circularity goals in the energy transition. He emphasized the intent to extend the scope of the existing alliance with FCC, which already addresses wind turbine blade recycling, while expanding the range of recovered materials and applications.
Iberdrola’s leadership reiterates that sustainable business models lie at the core of its strategy. The company points to more than two decades of leadership in the renewable sector and a strong push toward decarbonization as the foundation for these collaborative efforts across Europe and beyond.