Norwegian recycler Hydrovolt has partnered with the Icelandic Recycling Fund to manage end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles and industrial equipment in Iceland. The company will transport collected batteries to its facility in Fredrikstad, Norway, for processing.
The Fredrikstad plant, operational since May 2022, is the largest of its kind in the Nordic region. It is designed to process 12,000 tonnes of battery packs annually, which corresponds to the capacity of 25,000 to 30,000 electric vehicles.
Hydrovolt utilizes a mechanical and dry recycling process to recover aluminium, copper, and plastics. The remaining black mass, containing lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, is further processed by partners, including Fortum in Finland, to achieve a recycling rate of nearly 100 per cent.
The company has expanded its operations across Scandinavia, entering Sweden in February 2026 and Denmark in September 2026. It also established a collection and dismantling site in Hordain, France, in 2024.
Founded in 2020 as a joint venture between Norsk Hydro and Northvolt, the company is now fully owned by Norsk Hydro. In January 2025, Norsk Hydro agreed to acquire the remaining shares for NOK 78 million, approximately €6.7 million, following Northvolt's bankruptcy filing in March 2025.
