Green Markets is a daily series dedicated to highlighting events of interest that could impact investments within environmental markets.
Energy Efficiency
Cirba Solutions, a U.S.-based battery recycling company, has entered negotiations with the Department of Energy (DOE) for up to $200 million in funding to build a lithium-ion battery processing facility in Columbia, South Carolina. The plant will recycle materials from end-of-life EV batteries, energy storage systems, and manufacturing scrap to produce battery-grade salts for approximately 500,000 EV batteries annually.
Mercedes-Benz has opened Europe’s first integrated mechanical hydrometallurgical battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Germany. The facility is expected to recover over 96% of valuable materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which will be reused in new electric vehicle batteries. The plant operates with net carbon-neutral emissions, powered entirely by green electricity, and has an annual capacity to recycle 2,500 metric tons of batteries.
Related Stock List(s): Energy Efficiency Stocks
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)
Qatar is struggling to secure new LNG deals with key buyers like Japan and South Korea due to increased competition from the U.S., UAE, and Oman, which offer more flexible contracts without destination restrictions. Qatar's insistence on long-term contracts with destination clauses has led to stalled negotiations, as buyers prefer shorter-term deals with the option to resell cargo. This competitive pressure comes as Japan's LNG demand declines due to nuclear restarts and a shift to renewable energy, while South Korea is diversifying its supply sources.
Related Stock List(s): LNG Stocks
Nuclear Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $518 million in funding for 23 projects across 19 states to strengthen carbon storage infrastructure, supporting national decarbonization efforts. These projects, part of the Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) initiative, will help develop large-scale carbon storage sites capable of storing over 50 million metric tons of CO2 over 30 years.
Related Stock List(s): Nuclear Energy & Uranium Stocks
Recycling Technology
The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has lowered its 2030 plastic recycling target from 69% to a combined reuse and recycling rate of 55%. The adjustment reflects slow progress due to delayed policies and economic challenges since the first Recycling Roadmap was published in 2021. Additionally, BPF noted lower-than-expected development in chemical recycling, with a revised target of 400kT by 2035, contingent on overcoming regulatory and financial hurdles.
Related Stock List(s): Recycling Stocks