Lithium ion batteries are everywhere that drive everything, from consumer electronics to electric vehicles, residential PV storage systems and, more recent, limiting conversion in large-scale wind and solar energy plants. EVs encourage large-scale demand for Li-ion batteries that will lead to significant amounts of best batteries in the near future. This scenario emphasizes the potential for the re-use of EV batteries for stationary applications of second life, which can maximize their value before recycling. However, in order to fully realize this opportunity, various economic, technical and regulatory challenges must be tackled and resolved.
The large majority of battery production of lithium ions (Li-ion) is dedicated to feeding electric vehicles, and these batteries will become available for stationary applications that are usually available 5-8 years later. In 2023, electric vehicles accounted for 80% of the Li-ion battery demand. Lithium-ion battery costs and prices fall rapidly and reflect the price reductions that are seen in photovoltaic solar energy.
Li-ion batteries have become dominant in both electric vehicles and energy storage applications, and the considerable costs they have recently experienced are, are Due to the progress in technology, economies of scale in production and shifts in battery chemistry.
While the rapid absorption of PV on the roof continues, Solar has now caught up with nuclear, large hydro, coal and natural gas and it will make the largest contribution to the energy mix of the world by the start of the decade. Increased penetration of PV systems in both transmission and distribution networks can greatly benefit from the balancing options that batteries can offer.
Due to the intermittent nature of the solar resource, electricity storage becomes essential in the short term using Li-ion batteries. As the figure below shows, the cost reduction curves of both Silicon PV modules and Li-ion batteries are comparable. With large-scale PV and wind generation, restriction has become common and, together with overbouw PV and pumped hydro energy storage, large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) are used everywhere on a large scale.
Evolution of the PV module Global Annual Production (in GW, Blue Bars and Linkeras), and of the annual average price of PV modules and Li-ionbatteries in relation to the average price in 2010 (Green and Orange points in %, green and orange points respectively, respectively, right-wing axis) (data from respectively. Reneweconomy” Bloomberg Nef” Fraunhofer Isee” Irena).
Image: Ises
Second life Li-ion batteries and the EU battery passport
A battery that is retirement of its original application, such as in EVs, but still retains sufficient capacity and functionality, can be reused for stationary energy storage applications. Important drivers of battery markets for life are policy that promotes sustainable energy storage and circular economies; cooperation between car manufacturers, battery manufacturers and energy companies; And progress in battery diagnostics and refurbishment technologies.
Advanced battery -Assessment technologies are developed by various start-ups. These technologies can be in-vehicle battery tests in the vehicle to determine the battery status-of-health (SOH) in the order of minutes instead of hours according to typical cyclical techniques, so that the test time and therefore costs are shortened.
EU battery passport is a digital record that follows the entire life cycle of a battery, from raw materials to removal and recycling. It is an important part of the EU battery control, aimed at increasing transparency and sustainability in the battery value chain. This digital passport is accessible and mandatory for specific battery types from 2027. Industrial batteries (more than 2 kWh), batteries for electric vehicles and light options (LMT) batteries (such as e-bikes) require a battery pattern from February 2027. Consumers and other stakeholders have printed on the battery or battery-passion information.
The EU hopes that the passport of the battery will help to promote the use of sustainable materials in the production of batteries, to encourage responsible recycling and management at the end of life, to increase consumer awareness and to facilitate the trust in battery products and to facilitate the development of a circular economy for batteries. The EU battery regulations came into force on 8 August 2023.
To facilitate the dismantling of batteries and to support repairers, Reman manufacturers, operators of second life and recyclers in their activities, the Battery fittings also contain more detailed data on battery composition, dismantling (such as the tools required for dismantling) and safety measures. This includes values for performance and sustainability parameters, soh, battery status (eg ‘original’, ‘reused’, ‘waste’) and information with regard to the battery use (eg number of charging and discharge cycles, accidents to which the battery is possible).
Many players in the battery industry see benefits when re -use battery packages, instead of carrying out dismantling and re -use battery modules, because work and costs for dismantling are considerable. A Startup in California has announced the commissioning of the world’s largest second life, storage installation with grid-connected batteries energy storage. The 53 MWH storage project, consisting of withdrawn EV batteries, has operated commercially since May 2024 and sends the electricity to the schedule.
Asian and European companies have developed the infrastructure, financing and expertise to process large quantities of retired batteries in different chemistry and form factors. Despite the example above, The American market remains fragmented and immature. An important challenge is the disconnection between first-life battery owners and buyers of second life. First owners of the first life often expect to earn back 50% or more from the original value of their batteries. Second living companies, however, usually only want to pay 10 to 20% of the original price to remain viable. This inequality, in combination with the rapid aging of older battery technologies, creates a mismatch of expectations. Many surplus and light used EV batteries are sent directly to recycling that they are viable for the use of second life. This is due to guarantees, test costs and the falling price of new batteries.
Batteries of second life offer a bridge between recycling and removal, making a circular economy in energy storage possible, but they can only be viable if they are helped by appropriate policy that the direct removal or recycling of batteries that are still too good to be thrown away. A greater emphasis must be placed on stimulating players to re -use instead of recycling these batteries prematurely. Regulations and policy for batteries of second life, with regard to topics such as the EU battery paceProviding battery data to the end of life (EOL) about stakeholders, extensive producer responsibility (EPR) and other policy can make the difference.
Authors: Prof. dr. Ricardo Rüther (UFSC), Prof. Andrew Blakers (Anu)
Andre.blakers@anu.edu.au
ruther@gmail.com
Isesthe International Solar Energy Society a non-accredited membership NGO was founded in 1954 working on a world with 100% renewable energy for everyone, used efficiently and wisely.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author, and do not necessarily reflect it by PV -Magazine.
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