The battery-mineral loop refers to batteries that comprise minerals, which are not in infinite supply. Someday we will run out of these natural resources, or the remnants will become too expensive to mine. In theory, we can recover the materials from old batteries, and re-use them. However, we are only at the beginning of exploiting the battery-mineral loop. Why are things taking so long?
The Battery-Mineral Loop Should be Self-Fulfilling
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) published an in-depth assessment that we link to below, in June 2024. This lays out a compelling case for meeting future battery mineral demand through recycling used batteries.
As RMI compellingly says, batteries are not ‘a new oil’ that we can keep drilling, drilling, and drilling more. And moreover, ‘the combined forces of efficiency, innovation, and circularity’ could cause demand to peak within a decade.
Looking further on to 2050, the institute continues, we could reach a point where battery material sourcing transitions from linear extraction, to a circular process. Fully exploiting the battery-mineral loop this way, could herald a new era for climate security, health and wealth.
Change is Already Underway Towards This Transition
Rocky Mountain Institute notes how technical improvements already banked, have seen advancements in battery chemistry and density. Recycling lithium, cobalt and nickel are already making a dent in new mineral demand too.
Perhaps RMI is over-optimistic when it predicts ‘net-zero’ new mineral demand by 2040. However, it bases this on these factors that are coming within reach:
- Making batteries more energy-dense, and recycling their mineral content.
- Extending battery lifetime, and improving vehicle and mobility efficiency.
If we achieve this, RMI continues, and cut over to electric vehicles, then we could have a transport-energy source that is ‘seventeen times’ cheaper than oil. Our world could rapidly move towards net-zero-carbon road transport, with all the benefits that this would bring for future generations.
More Information
Redesigning Batteries For Recycling Easily
Recovering and Recycling EV Batteries
