Researchers from Muenster University, Fraunhofer FFB and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, have said that reusing EV batteries should be prioritised for stationary energy storage systems (ESS) over being recycled to recover raw materials.
Stationary ESS can be used to integrate renewable energy into the power grid, manage peak loads, and enhance energy security.
Both recycling and second-life use are based on the principles of the circular economy, but the researchers found that deploying end-of-life EV batteries in these devices is more effective in reducing greenhouse gases than immediately recycling.
The paper, published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, uses California as a case study.
It calculated that 61% of the state’s demand for EV batteries could be met by recycling end-of-life batteries with no second-life use by 2050, and could save 48 million tons of carbon dioxide. However, if those batteries are used in ESS’ then 56 million tons of carbon dioxide can be saved.
The researchers said that by 2050 there will be a much larger volume of end-of-life EV batteries than the demand for stationary ESS in California.
Using LFP batteries alone could be enough to meet the demand by 2050, as the researchers say they are well-suited for stationary storage.
The authors of the paper recommend that California begins to develop recycling infrastructure early, even if second-life use of batteries is prioritised first.
Its results suggest that holistic and systemic planning for battery supply chains is important, especially for production, recycling and second use.
Countries that develop the infrastructure now could be better positioned to benefit from the EV battery circular economy.
Image: An Illustration of the circular economy in California that factors in the effects of recycling versus second-life use EV batteries. Credit: Muenster University.
