Lead battery recycling firm Aqua Metals’ AquaRefining technology was on May 18 named Breakthrough Solution of the Year by S&P Global Platts, the energy and commodities markets information provider.  The award was presented as a new report forecast the battery recycling market would grow by a CAGR of 6.5% by 2022, to be worth $11.8 billion.Growth in the lead battery recycling business is set to be a huge proportion for this compound annual growth rate.

“To be recognised by a renowned global organization two years in a row delivers credibility to the significant progress we’ve made in bringing AquaRefining to commercialization,” said Aqua Metals chairman and CEO Stephen Clarke.

The firm also made it to the finals for two other Platts awards this year – Deal of the Year, and Industry Leadership, Base and Speciality Metals.

The company signed the first licensing agreement for its recycling technology in February with Johnson Controls in what chief commercial officer Steve Cotton called a “major win for the industry”.