IEC TC 120 has recently published a new standard which looks at how battery-based energy storage systems can use recycled batteries. IEC 62933‑4‑4, aims to “review the possible impacts to the environment resulting from reused batteries and to define the appropriate requirements”.
Following this period of dynamic storage, batteries reach the end of their usable life and are subsequently recycled through waste management processes, such as landfilling or material recycling. This strategy significantly reduces the need to manufacture new batteries for storage, leading to substantial economic benefits. Fig. 1.
The price advantage of used batteries could be overshadowed by the declining cost of new batteries. Consequently, it is essential to comprehensively assess the economic value of reused batteries for storage of solar energy.
Recycling coupled with reusing and remanufacturing can bring down the up-front cost of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Research suggests that reused and remanufactured batteries will be 30%–70% cheaper by 2025 and account for 26 GWh of energy storage globally.
With the rising EV demand and the need for a closed-loop circular economy, the concept of reusing lithium batteries is becoming popular. The closed-loop manufacturing of LIBs starting with remanufacturing, then repurposing, and finally recycling can benefit the LIB-based energy storage ecosystem.
Fig. 1 illustrates the concept of repurposing EV batteries for storage of solar energy. In their initial phases of life, batteries serve the operation of EVs. However, after several years of use, these batteries may no longer satisfy the standards required for EV applications.