Battery Manufacturing Resource Assessment to Minimise Component Production Environmental Impacts

Maryori C. Díaz-Ramírez, Victor J. Ferreira, Tatiana García-Armingol, Ana M. López-Sabirón and Germán Ferreira
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Maryori C. Díaz-Ramírez: Fundacion CIRCE, Avenida Ranillas, Edificio Dinamiza 3D, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Victor J. Ferreira: Fundacion CIRCE, Avenida Ranillas, Edificio Dinamiza 3D, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Tatiana García-Armingol: Fundacion CIRCE, Avenida Ranillas, Edificio Dinamiza 3D, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Ana M. López-Sabirón: Fundacion CIRCE, Avenida Ranillas, Edificio Dinamiza 3D, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Germán Ferreira: Fundacion CIRCE, Avenida Ranillas, Edificio Dinamiza 3D, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 17, 1-20

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.

Keywords: recyclability; battery; life cycle assessment; environmental impact; resources; circular economy (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 (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:6840-:d:402899

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