Environmental Assessment of Electrochemical Energy Storage Device Manufacturing to Identify Drivers for Attaining Goals of Sustainable Materials 4.0

Maryori C. Díaz-Ramírez, Víctor J. Ferreira, Tatiana García-Armingol, Ana María López-Sabirón and Germán Ferreira
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Maryori C. Díaz-Ramírez: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, Avda. Ranillas 3D, 1a Planta, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Víctor J. Ferreira: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, Avda. Ranillas 3D, 1a Planta, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Tatiana García-Armingol: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, Avda. Ranillas 3D, 1a Planta, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Ana María López-Sabirón: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, Avda. Ranillas 3D, 1a Planta, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Germán Ferreira: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), Parque Empresarial Dinamiza, Avda. Ranillas 3D, 1a Planta, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Electricity from the combination of photovoltaic panels and wind turbines exhibits potential benefits towards the sustainable cities transition. Nevertheless, the highly fluctuating and intermittent character limits an extended applicability in the energy market. Particularly, batteries represent a challenging approach to overcome the existing constraints and to achieve sustainable urban energy development. On the basis of the market roll-out and level of technological maturity, five commercially available battery technologies are assessed in this work, namely, lead–acid, lithium manganese oxide, nickel–cadmium, nickel–metal hydride, and vanadium redox flow. When considering sustainable development, environmental assessments provide valuable information. In this vein, an environmental analysis of the technologies is conducted using a life cycle assessment methodology from a cradle-to-gate perspective. A comparison of the environmental burden of battery components identified vanadium redox flow battery as the lowest environmental damage battery. In terms of components, electrodes; the electrolyte; and the set of pumps, motors, racks, and bolts exhibited the greatest environmental impact related to manufacturing. In terms of materials, copper, steel, sulphuric acid, and vanadium were identified as the main contributors to the midpoint impact categories. The results have highlighted that challenging materials 4.0 are still needed in battery manufacturing to provide sustainable technology designs required to the future urban planning based on circular economy demands.

Keywords: energy storage systems; batteries; life cycle assessment; circular economy strategies; chemical energy storage; material 4.0; sustainable technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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