The use of used electric car batteries as stationary energy storage contributes more effectively to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the long term than direct recycling. This is the conclusion of a study by a team of researchers from the University of Münster, the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA). The analysis was based on the example of the US state of California.
The model calculations show: In California, around 61 percent of the demand for batteries for electric vehicles can be covered by 2050 if all old batteries from electric vehicles are recycled, but there is no secondary use. This strategy can also save around 48 million tons of CO₂. If, on the other hand, secondary use is prioritized, 56 million tonnes of CO₂ can be avoided. The results also show that the amount of available used batteries from electric vehicles will significantly exceed the demand for stationary energy storage in California by 2050. The use of all lithium iron phosphate batteries alone, which are well suited for use in stationary energy storage systems, can cover the demand until 2050. The authors therefore recommend starting to build a recycling infrastructure at an early stage, even if secondary use is prioritized.
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