Lithium-ion battery end-of-life life cycle assessment

Lithium-ion batteries are a key technology in decarbonizing the
transportation and electricity sectors, yet the use of critical materials,
such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium, leads to environmental and social
impacts. Reusing, repurposing, and recycling batteries mitigate these
impacts by extending their lifespan and reducing reliance on virgin
materials. Innovation that reduces demand for these problematic materials
and increases battery efficiency also reduces impacts. Two examples of
this technological innovation include, 1) the development of energy-dense
cathode chemistry containing less cobalt, a material with high social and
environmental impacts; and 2) the use of columnar silicon thin film anode,
which results in increased energy density compared to the commonly used
graphite anode. This research assesses whether these technological
innovations change the currently understood waste hierarchy, which
prioritizes reuse or repurposing prior to recycling. This is of interest
because retired high-cobalt batteries could supply their constituent
materials sooner if recycled immediately and be used in low-cobalt,
higher-performing batteries. The assessment considers the life cycle
environmental impacts of two end-of-life management routes for a
high-cobalt lithium-ion battery: first, recycling the battery immediately
after the first use life to produce a new, and less material-intensive
battery, and second, repurposing the battery for a stationary storage
application followed by recycling. Findings show that battery reuse
reduces life cycle environmental impacts relative to immediate recycling.
Thus, from an environmental perspective, the waste hierarchy holds, and
steps to retain the batteries in their highest value use, such as through
repurposing, should still be prioritized.