United States relies on storage batteries to meet its renewable energy goals. And these in turn depend on open access to scarce battery materials. The war in Ukraine reminded us of the uncertainty of imported materials. The new Inflation Reduction Act has local battery makers wondering could battery recycling open supply chains wider.
Could Battery Recycling Open Supply Chains Locally?
The new act signed into law by White House has gigafactory auto makers in short term chaos. That’s because they want to qualify for the $7,500 clean vehicle tax credit. But China is not on the list of preferred battery material suppliers, and they need to restructure their supply chains accordingly.
Many of these EV manufacturers are reorienting their thinking, according to Tech Crunch on August 28, 2022. They may be wondering right now could battery recycling open supply chains locally that qualify for the tax credit.
U.S. battery makers need to come to the party with locally sourced materials, as Tech Crunch explains, . Moreover a business opportunity exists in the form of millions of tons of lithium-ion batteries due to retire by 2030. When we bring the ends together we realize the new Inflation Reduction Act is a catalyst for mass battery recycling.
A Fresh Wake-Up Call to U.S. Battery Makers
The United States battery recycling effort has been a side-show for far too long. Moreover, storage batteries play an increasing role in critical equipment we would be hard-pressed to do without. Tech Crunch believes U.S. needs to ‘end reliance [on others]… and turn the U.S. into a battery powerhouse’.
Chemical and Engineering News agrees we need to get serious about implementing large scale lithium battery recycling. That’s because U.S. only recycles around 5% of spent ones currently. And ‘a vast stockpile is looming on the horizon’ while the cost of virgin battery material is sky-rocketing.
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