The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland has extended an offer of up to $320 million (PLN 1.22 billion) to U.S.-based Ascend Elements to support the construction of a precursor cathode active material (pCAM) manufacturing facility in the country.
The funding, one of the largest subsidies ever granted by the Republic of Poland, is part of the EU’s Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF), aimed at enabling the transition to a net-zero economy.
pCAM is a critical material used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and industrial applications.
Ascend Elements has selected a site in Poland for what will be its first pCAM production facility in Europe. CEO Linh Austin met with Secretary of State Michał Jaros in Warsaw to officially receive the funding offer.
“This offer from the Polish government marks a key step in our European growth strategy,” said Linh Austin, President and CEO of Ascend Elements. “We are committed to establishing a sustainable battery materials supply chain across both North America and Europe.”
Paweł Pudłowski, Vice President of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), emphasized the significance of the initiative, describing it as one of the most substantial U.S. investments in recent years. The project is expected to strengthen Poland’s role in the battery supply chain and support regional and technological development, including partnerships with educational institutions.
The facility will produce sustainable nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) pCAM using Ascend Elements’ proprietary Hydro-to-Cathode® technology. This direct synthesis method recovers materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently and with lower environmental impact compared to traditional recycling methods.
Tomasz Poznar, Senior Vice President of Commercial at Ascend Elements, stated that the investment will contribute to building a circular supply chain for battery materials in Europe. “By bringing our Hydro-to-Cathode® technology to Poland, we aim to help close the supply gap in cathode precursors and support the EU’s climate goals.”
A life cycle assessment found that Hydro-to-Cathode® produces 49% less CO2e and 26% less PM2.5 emissions. The company targets reductions of 86% and 94% respectively by 2030 through further decarbonization.
Ascend Elements currently operates a major battery recycling facility in Covington, Georgia, and is constructing a large-scale pCAM plant in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The latter is expected to produce materials for up to 750,000 EV batteries annually and become North America’s largest NMC pCAM manufacturing site upon completion in 2026.
In 2024, the company launched a joint venture with Elemental Strategic Metals to operate a battery recycling facility in Zawiercie, Poland. The upcoming pCAM plant, however, will be solely owned and operated by Ascend Elements.
