Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries first appeared in data centers approximately five years ago to be used in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems as a means of ensuring uptime for mission-critical infrastructure in data centers. While Li-ion batteries are becoming increasingly popular for their reliable performance, low maintenance, and small footprint, there has been a fair amount of speculation regarding the costs and sustainability of recycling these batteries.
The belief among skeptics was that most Li-ion batteries end up in a landfill, and those that are recycled are done so using a furnace process that melts all components and renders everything but the reclaimed metals totally unsalvageable.
Several years ago, that process was commonplace, but a growing number of companies are using recycling processes that recover more of the valuable elements in the battery while minimizing or eliminating waste by-products. Government pressure and early, aggressive Li-ion battery adoption have kept China at the forefront of developing recycling technology and infrastructure, including a closed-loop Li-ion battery recycling plant.
In North America, the focus on recycling was slower to develop, but momentum is building. The Canadian company Li-Cycle, recently made its debut as a public company, while United States-based Redwood Materials is planning to build a $1 billion, million-square-foot factory that will be one of the largest of its type in the world.
The modern Lithium-ion...
Read Full Story: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/opinions/a-future-with-sustainable-profitable-lithium-ion-battery-recycling-is-closer-than-you-think/
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