Recycling lithium-ion batteries can provide a valuable secondary source of lithium, supporting both a circular economy and ensuring long-term sustainability in the energy sector, according to a study by Edith Cowan University (ECU), in Western Australia.
According to PhD student Sadia Afrin, the global market for lithium-ion batteries could reach AU$87.5 billion by 2027, growing at 13% on an annual basis, while lithium consumption is forecast to increase from 390 kilotons in 2020 to approximately 1,600 kilotons by 2026.
The research noted that most of the lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles are retired after only 20% of their total capacity is consumed, meaning that batteries that have retain as much as 80% of their lithium capacity end up in storage or landfill.
According to the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Australia could produce 137,000 tons of lithium battery waste annually by 2035. With this in mind, battery recycling is not only essential for the environment, but can also be lucrative – generating between AU$603 million and AU$3.1 billion annually within just over a decade.
Minimising waste
“By recycling these batteries, you can access not only the remaining lithium – which is already purified to near 99% – but you can also retrieve the nickel and the cobalt from these batteries,” lead author Asad Ali noted, adding that retrieving these minerals from recycled batteries is a lot more effective than sourcing them through mining.
“Recycling processes can significantly reduce the extensive use of land, soil contamination, ecological footprint, water footprint, carbon footprint and harmful chemical release into the environment, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions and minimising waste,” Ali added.
“Mining emits up to 37% tonnes of CO2 per ton of lithium. Recycling processes produce up to 61 per cent less carbon emissions compared with mining and uses 83% less energy and 79% less water as compared to mining. Hydrometallurgical recycling can generate profit up to $27.70 per kilogram of lithium recovered. And again, the lithium produced through the recycling process is already purified to 99%, which means all of the energy, water and emissions are saved from the downstream process.”
‘Need for investment’
Afrin acknowledged that challenges remain when it comes to effective battery recycling, such at the evolution of battery design, which can complicate recycling methods, while the rate of innovation currently outstrips policy development.
“There is a definite need for investment into the right infrastructure in order to create this circular economy, but there are several Australian companies that are looking at the best ways to approach this,” she said. Read more here.
