Batteries.

Scientists in Singapore have come up with a 'fruity' way of finding an environmentally-friendly method of recycling lithium-ion batteries.

A team led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has developed a method of using orange peel and citric acid to recover reusable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries.

Battery materials firm Lithium Australia has completed initial tests on its lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) battery cells made from waste material, including low-grade spodumene and spent lithium-ion batteries.

The Australian firm has said testing revealed the 2032 cells, with a lithium metal negative electrode, achieved capacities of up to 161mAh/g at a 0.1C discharge rate1. 

A six-month feasibility study at Portsmouth, UK, port has demonstrated how flow batteries offer a more cost effective solution to reducing the shipping industry’s emissions than conventional lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries. 

Despite being larger than traditional batteries per kWh the Shore Power for Shipping (SPIDS) project found flow batteries can reduce the peak power of a port’s network connection to only 10-20% of the grid power required using traditional batteries.

German public research university The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is working to develop standards that provide more security and flexibility when designing lithium-ion batteries.

In its research project, KIT will work alongside testing and standardisation institutes as well as industry partners to develop safety tests for lithium-ion cells under real conditions. 

Renewable energy firms Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) and Harmony Energy have commissioned a 15MWh lithium-ion energy storage system using six Tesla Megapack batteries.

The project in Dorset, UK, will store energy from renewable sources and deliver peak-load shifting to the UK National Grid via distribution network operator Scottish and Southern Electric Power.