SECTORS

Energy

From massive BESS installations to millions of smart meters, the UK’s energy landscape depends on lithium-ion storage. Without robust end-of-life management, the sector faces rising fire risks, regulatory challenges, and material shortages.

Recyclus provides the secure, scalable and sustainable recycling backbone needed to support national energy resilience and the transition to Net Zero.

Powering the UK’s energy future — safely and responsibly

The UK’s energy and utilities sector is undergoing a fundamental transition. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), smart meters, grid-scale lithium-ion installations, and distributed storage assets are now essential to balancing renewable energy, stabilising the grid, and enabling the shift to Net Zero.

But this rapid growth brings new challenges around lithium-ion battery safety, end-of-life management, and supply-chain resilience.

Grid-connected storage systems are expanding at a record pace, increasing the volume of large-format lithium-ion batteries entering the waste stream.
Fire risks within BESS, substations, and meter-storage facilities are rising as fleets age or experience environmental or thermal stress.
Utility providers are under growing obligation to ensure safe, compliant, and fully traceable disposal of batteries associated with BESS and smart metering.
Domestic recycling infrastructure is now critical — both for reducing risk and for keeping valuable materials within the UK supply chain.

Recyclus Group provides a secure, UK-based industrial solution for the cradle-to-cradle management of energy-sector lithium-ion batteries, from safe collection to full material recovery.

Our Energy & Utilities Services

Here’s how we support you end-to-end:

Safe Collection, Storage & Transport

We manage the full lifecycle of batteries used in energy storage and utility applications:

ADR-compliant transport for BESS modules, utility batteries, backup systems, and smart-meter cells.
Our fire-safe, UNP911- certified “LiBox” containers meet Packing Group I and ADR P911 regulations for damaged or thermally stressed units.
Large-scale collection programmes for utility providers and energy developers.
Chain-of-custody tracking to support regulatory and environmental audits.

Whether you’re decommissioning a grid-storage asset or cycling out hundreds of thousands of smart meters, Recyclus provides secure, compliant Li-ion battery logistics.

Assessment & Pre-Treatment

Large-format lithium-ion modules used in BESS present unique technical and safety challenges. Our high-voltage engineering team provides:

Controlled dismantling and neutralisation of BESS modules.
Safe handling of heat-damaged, water-logged, or compromised units.
Bulk processing for utility-scale meter batteries (electric and gas meters).
Assessment, sorting, and removal of embedded electronics and hazardous materials.

Our Wolverhampton facility is designed to safely deconstruct and depower high-energy systems in compliance with UK and EU environmental standards.

End-of-Life Recycling & Material Recovery

Recyclus operates the UK’s first industrial-scale lithium-ion recycling facility, capable of processing:

Grid-scale BESS battery modules
Backup and UPS system batteries
Distributed energy storage units
Residential energy system batteries
Smart-meter lithium-cell packs
Industrial and substation energy storage assets

Through shredding and advanced separation, we extract:

Black mass containing lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
Copper, aluminium and other recoverable metals.
Plastics and structural materials.

Recovered materials re-enter supply chains, improving critical mineral resilience and supporting circular-economy obligations.

Full destruction certificates and sustainability reporting are issued for all energy-sector clients.

Fire Risk Management & Safety Consultancy

The increase in BESS-related fires has made risk management a top priority for energy operators.

Recyclus supports the sector with:

Guidance on fire containment and Li-ion battery isolation procedures
Emergency response protocols for compromised packs
Regulatory and compliance support for environmental standards

This service is critical for DNOs, energy retailers, storage-asset operators, and smart-meter installation networks.

How It Works

Energy / Utility Process Flow

1. Arrange Collection

Arrange Collection

Arrange collection or deliver to our facility: we handle paperwork, transport, or receipt.

2. Initial Inspection

Initial Inspection

Initial inspection: assessment of battery pack condition (normal end-of-life, damaged, fire-affected).

3. Containment

Containment

Containment (if required): damaged/dangerous packs are placed in our specialised containment (LiBox) and stored in controlled conditions.

4. Safe Dismantling

Safe Dismantling

Safe dismantling: high-voltage team executes controlled dismantling and pre-treatment in line with safety standards.

5. Recycling & Recovery

Recycling & Recovery

Recycling & recovery: shredded, separated, and processed into black mass and other recoverable materials.

6. Certifications & Reporting

Certifications & Reporting

Certifications & reporting: full traceability provided, including certificates of destruction, material recovered, and environmental impact metrics.

5. Recycling & Recovery

Recycling & Recovery

Recycling & recovery: shredded, separated, and processed into black mass and other recoverable materials.

6. Certifications & Reporting

Certifications & Reporting

Certifications & reporting: full traceability provided, including certificates of destruction, material recovered, and environmental impact metrics.

Strategic Benefits for Energy Partners

Grid Safety and Risk Reduction

Grid safety and risk reduction through expert handling of high-energy storage systems.

Compliance Assurance

Compliance assurance with UK Battery Regulations, WEEE, and environmental reporting.

Full Material Traceability

Full material traceability for ESG, CSR, and Net Zero reporting.

Operational Continuity

Operational continuity, reducing downtime during decommissioning or asset replacement.

Secure & Confidential Battery Handling for Sensitive Products

Recyclus provides specialised handling for confidential waste streams and next-generation product trials, ensuring security, discretion and full compliance at every stage.

Our facility is equipped to process:

Batteries from confiscated or restricted items, received through approved waste partners
Prototype, pre-production and next-generation devices from automotive, robotics, electronics and industrial sectors
Development batteries used in R&D labs, engineering teams and controlled testing programmes
Sensitive equipment requiring secure destruction, full audit trails and verified recycling outcomes

All confidential materials are managed under secure processes with:

Controlled access zones
Full chain-of-custody tracking
Secure destruction certificates
Non-disclosure aligned handling for sensitive technologies

This ensures high-risk or confidential battery waste — whether from law-enforcement seizures or cutting-edge engineering trials — is processed safely, discreetly and in full compliance with UK regulation.