Battery Manufacturing Resource Assessment to Minimise Component Production Environmental Impacts

Maryori C Díaz-Ramírez,Germán Ferreira,Victor J Ferreira,Ana M López-Sabirón,Tatiana García-Armingol

doi:10.3390/su12176840

Maryori C Díaz-Ramírez, Germán Ferreira + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12176840

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Abstract

A promising route to attain a reliable impact reduction of supply chain materials is based on considering circular economy approaches, such as material recycling strategies. This work aimed to evaluate potential benefits of recycling scenarios for steel, copper, aluminium and plastic materials to the battery manufacturing stage. Focused on this aim, the life cycle assessment (LCA) and the environmental externalities methodologies were applied to two battery study cases: lithium manganese oxide and vanadium redox flow (VRFB) batteries, based on a cradle-to-gate LCA approach. In general, the results provided an insight into the raw material handling route. Environmental impacts were diminished by more than 20% in almost all the indicators, due to the lower consumption of virgin materials related to the implemented recyclability route. Particularly, VRFB exhibited better recyclability ratio than the Li-ion battery. For the former, the key components were the periphery ones attaining around 70% of impact reduction by recycling steel. Components of the power subsystem were also relevant, reaching around 40% of environmental impact reduction by recycling plastic. The results also foresaw opportunities for membranes, key components of VRFB materials. Based on findings, recycling strategies may improve the total circularity performance and economic viability of the studied systems.

Highlights

Sustainable development of battery performance lies in finding novel materials, and in minimising resource consumption
This study analysed from the life cycle perspective the environmental effect of material recycling in two different battery types (LMO and vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB)), intending to identify gaps and opportunities for innovation during the design phase and the EOL
The main results confirmed that the use of recycled materials provoked a descent in all environmental indicators associated with both battery types, especially in terms of toxicity and ecotoxicity for VRFB

Summary

Introduction

Sustainable development of battery performance lies in finding novel materials, and in minimising resource consumption. It is predicted that some metals, such as copper required for electrodes, will manifest some kind of scarcity by increasing their prices and, the supply situation could be much improved if the recycling is promoted [1] In this sense, a promising route to attain reliable environmental impact and cost reduction of supply chain materials is based on considering circular economy approaches [2]. Unterreiner et al [7] analysed the ecological impacts of LiFePO4 (LFP) and vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) by applying scenarios of reusable materials This analysis determined materials, which were responsible for the environmental burden. Weber et al [10] evaluated the potential of environmental impact reduction due to recycling perspective for VRFB and lithium−iron-phosphate-based cathode with lithium-titanate anode (LFP-LTO) They identified higher recyclability for VRFB compared to the lithium-based batteries, considering the recycling routes for steel and copper

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