North Star Recycling collaborates with Siemens to establish a digitalized and low-carbon recycling system for retired power batteries in Qingdao

On February 19, 2025, Siemens Ltd., China (hereinafter referred to as "Siemens") and North Star Advanced Recycling Technology (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "North Star Recycling") successfully held a strategic cooperation signing ceremony and a symposium on the construction of a digitalized and low-carbon recycling system for retired power batteries in Qingdao City, with the support of the Qingdao Municipal Government. This collaboration marks a significant step forward for both parties in promoting the sustainable development of the circular economy.

Government and Enterprises Unite for Green Development

The event was attended by Wang Bo, Member of the Standing Committee of the Qingdao Municipal Party Committee and Vice Mayor of Qingdao; Gao Jian, Deputy Director of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission; Jiang Haitian, Deputy Director of the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology; Li Xiaofeng, Deputy Director of the Municipal Bureau for the Development of Private Economy; Wu Yanqiu, Deputy Inspector of the Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment; Zhang Lin, Director of the Resource and Environment Division of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission; Lu Yunfeng, Director of the Green Development Division of the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology; Yin Liangang, Deputy Secretary of the Chengyang District Party Committee and District Mayor; Li Wenhua, Director of the District Bureau of Industry and Information Technology; Liu Zhong, Director of the District Bureau of Ecology and Environment; Hu Xueyan, Deputy Director of the District Development and Reform Bureau; and Liu Hui, Director of the District Information Service Center, among others.

Lu Yuebing, Vice President of the Carbon Neutrality Committee of the Tsinghua University Alumni Association, Chairman of the Transnational Corporations Carbon Neutrality 50 Forum, Chairman of Climate Capital Group, and Chairman of the Board of Air Liquide China, along with Xu Shengming, Professor, Researcher, and Doctoral Supervisor at Tsinghua University, and Lead Scientist of the National Key Research and Development Program on "Recycling of Retired Power Batteries," were specially invited to attend the event.

In attendance were Ma Qing, Executive Vice President of Siemens and Head of Talent and Sustainability for Greater China; Zhan Jingtao, Vice President and General Manager of Ecosystem and Cooperation for the Northern Region; Hu Jianjun, Vice President and Chief Network and Information Security Officer; Yang Hailin, Sustainability Manager for Greater China; and Wen Haiwei, General Manager of the Digital Industries Group for the Eastern Shandong Region. Representing North Star Recycling were Zhang Tao, Chairman and General Manager; Wen Baofeng, Deputy General Manager; Ge Linhan, Marketing Director; Wang Shuai, Deputy General Manager; and Han Ziyang, AI and Digitalization Director, among others.

Under the witness of government leaders and senior executives, North Star Recycling and Siemens formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will jointly develop a model project for the digitalized and low-carbon recycling system of retired power batteries in Qingdao City. This collaboration aims to establish a zero-carbon, intelligent, and digital lighthouse factory, driving the green transformation and sustainable development of the resource recycling industry.

Technology empowers and promotes low-carbon recycling technology

Ma Qing, Executive Vice President of Siemens and Head of Talent and Sustainable Development of Greater China, said that the construction of a recycling system for decommissioned power batteries is not only a key link in the sustainable development of new energy vehicles, but also an important initiative to realize resource recycling and reduce environmental pollution. This cooperation is an important part of Siemens “Zero Carbon Pioneer Program”, and the two sides will carry out in-depth cooperation in various fields such as low-carbon recycling technology, digital platform construction, industry chain synergy and talent training.

In the area of low-carbon recycling technology, the two sides will deepen the application of carbon footprint accounting technology, providing quantitative assessment of carbon emissions in the recycling process and data support for carbon reduction through accurate data collection and analysis. This initiative will significantly enhance the environmental performance of the recycling process and help achieve the carbon neutral goal.

Digital platform to enhance recycling efficiency

In terms of digital platform construction, the two sides will work together to build a digital recycling platform that integrates the functions of retired power battery information collection, recycling network management, logistics tracking, recycling treatment process monitoring, data analysis and decision-making support. Through the application of Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence and other technologies, the full life cycle management of decommissioned power batteries from the source of recycling to the final processing will be realized, which will significantly improve the efficiency and transparency of recycling.

Industry chain synergy, building a complete recycling system

In the field of industry chain synergy, the two sides will join hands with Qingdao's battery manufacturers, new energy vehicle manufacturers, battery leasing companies and other upstream and downstream industry chain enterprises to jointly build Qingdao's decommissioned power battery recycling system. This system will realize the compliance, rapid collection and efficient recycling of retired power batteries, provide high-quality recycled materials for the upstream enterprises of the industrial chain, reduce the cost of raw material procurement, and form a complete retired power battery recycling industry chain.

Talent training to ensure the sustainable development of the industry

In terms of talent cultivation, the two sides will cooperate with local universities and vocational colleges to establish talent cultivation bases and training centers related to decommissioned power battery recycling, and offer professional courses and training programs to provide a solid talent guarantee for the development of the industry. This initiative will help cultivate more talents with specialized knowledge and skills and promote the long-term sustainable development of the industry.

Deepening Cooperation for a Zero-Carbon Future

As a technology-based innovative enterprise focusing on the green and low-carbon recycling of waste in emerging industries, North Star Recycling has previously cooperated with Siemens in various fields. Before signing the contract, Siemens and its delegation also visited the North Star Institute of Advanced Recycling Technology to learn more about the latest achievements and technology applications of North Star Circular in the field of circular economy. The two sides had an in-depth discussion on the circular economy model, technology innovation, industrial synergy and other topics, and held a “Siemens China Zero Carbon Pioneer Partner Program” awarding ceremony, in which North Star Recycling became a member of “Siemens China Zero Carbon Pioneer Partner”.

From left to right: Hu Jianjun, Lu Yubing, Ma Qing, Xu Shengming, and Zhang Tao, live broadcast of the “Circular Economy Series Dialogue on the New Zheng He's Journey to the West Ocean.”

Ma Qing, Executive Vice President of Siemens and Head of Talent and Sustainable Development of Greater China, presented a certificate to Zhang Tao, Chairman and General Manager of NorthStar Recycling, and North Star Recycling became a member of “Siemens Zero Carbon Pioneer Partner in China”.

This cooperation is not only an important exploration between Siemens and North Star Recycling in the field of circular economy, but also an innovative practice in the recycling of retired power batteries in Qingdao and even in the whole country. Through technological empowerment, low-carbon development and industry chain synergy, both parties will jointly promote the green transformation of the resource recycling industry and contribute to the realization of the carbon neutral goal.

In the future, with the deepening of cooperation, Qingdao's low carbon recycling system of retired power battery counting will become a national and even global demonstration project, setting a new benchmark for the development of circular economy.