The Dormagen facility will start operations in 2027 

and broaden its scope to strengthen Europe’s battery independence

‍

Aachen/Dormagen, 19 December 2025 – German battery recycling company cylib has secured a €63.4 million grant from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) to finance the second build-out stage of its Dormagen facility. The funding, awarded through the STARK program, will enable cylib to establish Europe's first dedicated industrial-scale LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) recycling line, doubling total planned facility capacity to 60,000 tonnes annually—equivalent to 140,000 electric vehicle batteries.

Founded in Aachen in 2022, cylib has rapidly scaled from laboratory development to proven pilot-scale operations and now employs a team of 120 people preparing the industrialisation at Chempark Dormagen, with start of production planned for 2027. To date, cylib has secured over €140 million in funding through non-dilutive grants and Series A equity financing, demonstrating strong public and private sector confidence in its technology and market position.

The expansion positions cylib as Europe's first industrial operator capable of processing all major battery chemistries—NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) and LFP—from end-of-life batteries, production scrap, and black mass at scale. This comprehensive capability directly addresses Europe's critical dependency on imported battery raw materials, particularly from China, while responding to rapidly shifting market dynamics. LFP batteries now account for nearly 50% of the global EV battery market and dominate stationary energy storage systems, yet Europe currently lacks dedicated industrial-scale LFP recycling infrastructure—creating both astrategic vulnerability and a significant market opportunity for domestic material recovery.

"This grant sends a strong signal that Germany is committed to investing in Europe's circular economy and raw material resilience," says Dr. Lilian Schwich, co-founder and co-CEO of cylib. "We are grateful for this support, which validates our approach and enables us to deliver the LFP recycling infrastructure Europe urgently needs."

Closing Europe's LFP recycling gap

The €63.4 million grant will finance a dedicated 30,000-tonne LFP recycling line to complement the facility's planned 30,000-tonne NMC capacity. While European recycling efforts have historically focused on high-value NMC chemistries, LFP batteries are rapidly gaining market share.

"Our pilot projects with partners across Europe delivered a clear message: LFP recycling capacity is needed now," says Dr. Gideon Schwich, co-founder and co-CEO. "The grant supports our move from pilot success to fullscale industrial operations. A key step towards a resilient European battery value chain."

Strengthening structural transformation in North Rhine-Westphalia

The STARK-funded (Stärkung der Transformationsdynamik und Aufbruch in den Revieren und an den Kohlekraftwerkstandorten) expansion advances multiple transformation objectives for the Rhineland coal region:

Regional economic development: Creating additional 180 jobs in a structurally transitioning region

Technology leadership: Establishing industrial-scale LFP recycling capabilities new to Europe

Enhanced recovery rates: Achieving 90% material recovery for LFP and NMC battery chemistries, applying a lithium first approach.

Climate impact: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% versus primary extraction

Supply chain resilience: Building partnerships across the complete battery value chain

The Dormagen facility will operate with closed-loop water systems and minimal waste generation while ensuring full EU Battery Regulation compliance. Production begins in 2027, with capacity ramping up in subsequent phases.

‍

About cylib

cylib is a holistic battery recycling scale-up founded in 2022 in Aachen, Germany, by Dr Lilian Schwich, Paul Sabarny, and Dr Gideon Schwich. Emerging from research at RWTH Aachen University, the company has grown to over 120 employees and develops advanced materials for sustainable batteries and resilient European value chains.

The company's proprietary water-based OLiC (Optimised Lithium and Graphite Recovery) technology efficiently recovers raw materials from battery packs, black mass, and production scrap, achieving over 90% recycling efficiency across all relevant cell chemistries. This closed-loop process recovers lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite from NMC batteries, while specialized LFP processing captures lithium and iron phosphate compounds. The recovered materials are reintegrated into the battery supply chain with an 80% reduced carbon footprint compared to primary extraction, enabling a true circular economy.

The technology has been validated at cylib's pilot facility in Aachen, which serves as the company's R&D hub for advancing battery recycling innovation.

Learn more at:  https://www.cylib.de/

Media contact: Rebekka Müller (Head of Public Relations)
Phone: +49 (0) 241 9457360. Email: pr@cylib.de

‍