Aqua Metals, the US startup that aims to commercialise an aqueous means for recycling lead-acid batteries, has won the Breakthrough Solution of the Year category at the fifth Platts Global Metals Awards in London.
It’s the second year running that London-based energy firm S&P Global Platts has recognised Aqua Metals for its AquaRefining technology. Dr Stephen Clarke, chairman and CEO of Aqua Metals, said this “delivers credibility to the significant progress we’ve made in bringing AquaRefining to commercialisation”.
Last year, Aqua Metals won the Rising Star category. This year that trophy went to Roy Hill Holdings, an iron ore mining, rail and port operation in west Australia.
Aqua Metals was also a finalist in two other categories – Deal of the Year and Industry Leadership (Base & Specialty Metals). But it was pipped to the title in these categories by mining companies China Molybdenum and MMG.
The Platts award comes hot on the heels of Aqua Metals picking up the San Francisco Business Times’ Tech and Innovation Award, recognising the startup as one of the most innovative companies in the area.
The other winners of the Platts Global Metals Awards: Metals Company of the Year – Fortescue Metals Group; CEO of the Year – Sanjeev Gupta, Liberty House Group; Lifetime Achievement Award – Georgina Rinehart, Hancock Prospecting Ltd; Corporate Social Responsibility Award – Metinvest Group; Industry Leadership Award (Aluminum) – Emirates Global Aluminum; Industry Leadership Award (Precious Metals) – Dillon Gage Inc; Industry Leadership Award (Raw Materials & Mining) – Fortescue Metals Group; Industry Leadership Award (Scrap & Recycling) – Nikkei MC Aluminium Co Ltd; Industry Leadership Award (Steel) – Nucor Corp; Financial Metals Service Provider of the Year – Singapore Exchange; Physical Metals Service Provider of the Year – Jemison Metals.