Disruptors for GOOD | Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises 10 Battery Recycling and Storage Startups Changing the Grid
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Dec 4, 2025 Explore the urgent need for sustainable battery materials and innovative long-duration energy storage solutions. Discover how startups like Redwood Materials and Ascend Elements are revolutionizing recycling and production processes. Highlights include Form Energy's breakthrough in iron-air batteries for extended storage and Moment Energy’s creative use of second-life EV batteries. Additionally, learn about trends towards non-lithium storage and sophisticated recycling strategies, all vital for a resilient, decarbonized grid.
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Two Critical Bottlenecks For The Energy Transition
- The clean-energy transition hinges on both sustainable battery supply and long-duration storage solutions.
- Mining-dependent supply chains and short-duration storage create environmental and reliability risks for the grid.
Closed-Loop Battery Supply Gains Traction
- Redwood Materials achieves very high recovery rates for battery metals and has secured major DOE support.
- Their work aims to create North America's first closed-loop battery supply chain and reduce dependence on Asian processors.
Direct Precursor From Recycled Batteries
- Ascend Elements converts recycled batteries directly into cathode precursors with a low-carbon process.
- Their hydro-to-direct synthesis cuts emissions up to 90% versus virgin-material routes by eliminating intermediate steps.