Nth Cycle Starts First U.S. Commercial Production of Nickel MHP in Support of the Electrified and Circular Economy

The Impact

Nth Cycle announced the start of production of its first commercial-scale nickel scrap refining system in Fairfield, Ohio, supporting an effort to fast track the supply of critical metals for the United States that can be used in the production of rechargeable lithium batteries and other clean energy technologies. 

The company announced the start of production at a ribbon cutting ceremony in September, 2024.

The new refining system (installed in a 20,000 square foot facility in Fairfield, Ohio), features “Nth Cycle's electro-extraction Oyster system, which recovers critical metals contained in lithium-ion batteries (from end of life batteries and manufacturing scrap) and other sources of nickel scrap. These feedstocks are refined into our premium nickel cobalt Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) product,” the company said. 

"As the world becomes increasingly reliant on the critical metals that are the backbone of an electrified economy, it's clear the sourcing of those materials must be as clean and efficient as the future we imagine," said Megan O'Connor, PhD., co-founder and CEO of Nth Cycle. "A clean, unfettered and cost-efficient supply chain of Nickel and Cobalt, or MHP, not only accelerates our path to that future, but it establishes the U.S. as a global leader in that movement."

Up until this point, the United States had not engaged in any domestic production of MHP. Instead, domestic manufacturers have relied on an unreliable supply with inconsistent quality from politically unstable countries that have questionable working conditions and environmental practices, the company said. 

Nth Cycle's MHP initiative aims to address this issue by mitigating the risk for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) while also improving the quality of the product.

The Balch Team

Jesse Unkenholz, partner in Balch’s Birmingham office, Co-Chair of the Energy Transactions & Acquisitions Practice, and member of the Renewable Energy and Corporate Practices, along with Emily McKee and Christy Kuklinksi, attorneys in the firm’s Birmingham office and members of the Energy Transactions & Acquisitions Practice, negotiated the major commercial aspects of the new refining facility, including the contracts included the engineering, procurement and construction agreements, the major equipment supply agreements, and services and supply agreements.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to support Nth Cycle as it opens this first-of-its-kind project in the U.S. to support the clean energy transition towards renewable energy sources and the critical role that battery storage technology will play in that evolution,” Jesse said. “Novel projects raise novel challenges, and we love working with clients like Nth Cycle who are not afraid to jump right in to find novel solutions.” 

The Company

Nth Cycle, based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a metal refining company focused on reduction opportunities across the metal supply chain. It works with scrap recyclers and miners to recover production-grade critical minerals from industrial scrap, low-grade ore, and refining waste. The company’s patented electro-extraction technology—an alternative to hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy—enables customizable, clean, and consistent recovery of the critical minerals for the energy transition. Nth Cycle is recognized as the first U.S.-based minerals and metal manufacturer, a key requirement for domestic production which is critical for the electric vehicle revolution, energy storage supply chain and the creation of new jobs through the Inflation Reduction Act.

This Case Study was updated October 2, 2024 to reflect the start of the production at the new facility. 

LEARN MORE

Photos courtesy of Nth Cycle.

All images © 2024 Nth Cycle.