The future of clean battery energy could, judging by the tests, be wooden! Namely, the innovation for the production of sustainable batteries is hidden among the trees. The material inside the wood is being tested to find its role in the new battery market. In addition, certain chemicals inside used batteries can be used to create plant food.

Feed plants with batteries – recycled batteries can become fertilizer useful for plant growth and food cultivation

The disposal of alkaline batteries is very problematic, but an increasingly strong impact on sustainability and environmental protection is being achieved. With the repurposing of the active components of used batteries, especially disposable batteries, toxic elements are not washed into the soil. With rigorous testing, the batteries are shredded and toxic elements are removed, a step that is very important because such elements must not end up in the consumer’s food. Toxic elements are sent for safe disposal in hazardous waste processing facilities. The remaining micro-nutrients are taken from the alkaline batteries and converted into vital food for the crops.

Repurposing is always desirable, also in the case of batteries, so that they do not end up in a landfill. Such processes are part of the circular economy plan, whose plan is to reduce the exploitation of natural resources by using them as long as possible.

Scandinavian countries are working on innovative batteries for the production of which wood-based material is used.

In its production facility, the Finnish company brings a series of development ideas based on trees and biomaterials for everyday problems that require ecological solutions. A Swedish company with the production of bio-batteries joins them on this journey. Their goal is to promote a global accelerated shift towards fossil fuel-free energy production with a solution that is cost-effective, safe and environmentally friendly. Resources are widely available, and it is the producer’s responsibility to source their materials from European forests certified for sustainability.

Lignin is the second most common macromolecule after cellulose and makes up about a third of the total composition of wood

In plants, it strengthens their structure and makes them woody to prevent rotting. Lignin is extracted from wood and refined into a powder that is then pressed into strips and combined with other battery components to produce a substitute for non-renewable graphite.

For example, in order for Tesla to meet its production goals of 20 million electric cars per year, more than a million tons of graphite would need to be mined. In traditional lithium-ion batteries that power almost all portable electronics, the anode is made of graphite, which is formed by chemical reactions of non-renewable carbon compounds. For this reason there is concern, but a good sign is that more and more people are switching to new renewable energy technology that brings with it several key advantages. In this case, they are scalability, sustainability, renewability, faster charging, better performance at lower temperatures and meeting the global demand for e-mobility.

Lignin-based carbon could be used to power, in fact, everything! From consumer electronics to automotive systems.

A major contribution to the global battery market is expected, which according to some estimates will increase tenfold in the next five years. In addition, the already existing increase in the use of electric vehicles is expected in the future as well, with a positive contribution to carbon emissions resulting from vehicles, but only on the condition that the materials used to make them are less harmful and cheaper for our environment. After a lot of research, pilot plants and laboratories are planned to recycle batteries and supply the European battery market for electric vehicles. We can hope for successful partnerships that will result in the fastest possible increase and commercialization in Europe and beyond.

Photo: Mollyroselee on pixabay

Do you have additional questions?

Have you come across any irregularities in the text?

Contact us at info@oro.hr!