Contemporary Amperex Technology Hungary has applied for a modified environmental permit for its battery plant in Debrecen (E Hungary), the Chinese-owned company said on Thursday.

CATL Debrecen managing director Matt Shen said the aim of the application was to use more environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient solutions, cutting back on the use of water and energy.

He added that operation and monitoring systems at the plant would ensure compliance with the strictest Hungarian and European Union environmental rules.

Adiabatic cooling towers will be installed at the base, boosting the share of greywater and reducing the plant’s environmental footprint. CATL will also outsource its NMP regeneration.

CATL also said it planned to add production of lithium iron phosphate batteries, in addition to lithium nickel manganese batteries, at the base. An environmental permit was issued for the battery plant in 2023. That permit has been modified twice, in 2023 and 2024.

Test production of battery modules started in September 2024 and battery cell production is planned to start at the end of 2025.

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