Optimising the geospatial configuration of a future lithium ion battery recycling industry in the transition to electric vehicles and a circular economy

Nguyen-Tien, Viet; Dai, Qiang; Harper, Gavin D.J.; Anderson, Paul A.; Elliott, Robert J.R.

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119230

Optimising the geospatial configuration of a future lithium ion battery recycling industry in the transition to electric vehicles and a circular economy

Journal Article · Mon May 30 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Applied Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119230· OSTI ID:1923057

Nguyen-Tien, Viet ^[1]; Dai, Qiang ^[2]; Harper, Gavin D.J. ^[3]; Anderson, Paul A. ^[3]; Elliott, Robert J.R. ^[3]

London School of Economics and Political Science (United Kingdom); Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot (United Kingdom). The Faraday Institution
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot (United Kingdom). The Faraday Institution; University of Birmingham (United Kingdom)

Rapid electrification of the transport system will generate substantial volumes of Lithium-ion-battery (LiB) waste as batteries reach their end-of-life. Much attention focuses on the recycling processes, neglecting a broader systemic view that considers the concentration of the costs and impacts associated with logistics and transportation. This paper provides an economic, environmental and geospatial analysis of a future LiB recycling industry in the UK. Hitherto, state-of-the-art assessment methods have evaluated life cycle impacts and costs but have not considered the geographical layer of the problem. This paper develops a GSC derived supply chain model for the UK electric vehicle and end-of-life vehicle battery industry. Considering both pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical recycling technologies, the optimisation process takes into account anticipated EV volumes, and, based on anticipated near-term technological evolution of LiBs, the evolution of the mix of battery cathodes in production, and presents a number of scenarios to show where LiB recycling facilities should ideally be geographically located. An economic and environmental assessment based on a customised EverBatt model is provided.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: The Faraday Institution; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Vehicle Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 1923057

Journal Information:: Applied Energy, Journal Name: Applied Energy Vol. 321; ISSN 0306-2619

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Optimising the geospatial configuration of a future lithium ion battery recycling industry in the transition to electric vehicles and a circular economy

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