Photo courtesy of Princeton NuEnergy Inc.
Pinceton NuEnergy Inc. (PNE), a Princeton, New Jersey-based lithium-ion battery recycler, says its “Advanced Black Mass” (ABM) recycling production facility in Chester, South Carolina, is fully commissioned and operational.
The company claims its flagship recycling facility is the United States’ first commercial-scale ABM and battery-grade cathode active material (CAM) production facility, processing both nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries.
“In Chester, we demonstrate that the United States can lead in battery materials recovery and manufacturing—not years from now, but today,” says Dr. Chao Yan, PNE’s co-founder and CEO. “Our team’s execution has been exceptional, and this facility is our next major advancement in the battery supply chain space. United States policy is focused on creating a secure domestic energy production and supply chain, and PNE is at the forefront with our best-in-class technology and manufacturing processes.”
PNE says its 5,000 tons-per-year facility produces a consistent, high-purity ABM product from manufacturing scrap using a proprietary advanced recycling process. The company adds that the facility is fully permitted and compliant with all U.S. and state environmental and operational standards, operating under strict standard operating procedures to ensure safety, traceability and material quality.
PNE claims the operation has achieved a recovery yield of more than 97 percent, “surpassing industry norms” and producing downstream feedstock for battery production. In 2026, the company says the Chester facility’s capacity will expand to 15,000 tons per year, with the capability to scale up to 50,000 tons per year as market demand grows.
The company currently operates a joint pilot facility with a co-located partner in McKinney, Texas, that is advancing its direct recycling technologies and capabilities. Nationally, PNE says it is building a network dedicated to U.S. closed-loop battery material recovery and production.
In New Jersey, PNE has launched a materials testing center for third-party validation and downstream application testing.
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