Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change

Battery Recycling Is Here - But Where Are The Batteries? - Ep165: Hans Eric Melin

Jun 5, 2024

Hans Eric Melin, the expert on battery recycling, challenges myths about low recycling rates, highlighting potential rates of up to 90%. He discusses the importance of data in circular energy storage and addresses challenges in battery recycling, collection rates, repurposing electric vehicle batteries, market values, and opportunities in the industry.

01:13:02

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Hans Eric Melin

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Quick takeaways

Battery recycling rate could be as high as 90%, challenging the myth of low recycling rates.

Hans-Erik Melin's diverse background in communication leads to expertise in battery reuse and AI-powered sorting.

Balancing recycling capacity and material availability poses a challenge for the global battery recycling industry.

Deep dives

Battery Recycling: The Current Reality

Battery recycling has become a critical issue as battery prices decrease and manufacturing volumes increase. Contrary to popular belief, only 5% of lithium-ion batteries are actually recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills. However, the reality presented by the world's leading expert, Hans-Erik Melin, challenges this myth. He suggests that the recycling rate for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries could be as high as 90%, showcasing a significant discrepancy in public perception versus actual practice.

Uncovering the Origin of the 5% Myth on Battery Recycling

00:51

Achieving Circular Economy through Recycling and Technology Innovation

01:31

Reusing Batteries for Electric Vehicles

00:47

Maximizing Battery Recycling for a Sustainable Future

00:53

Intro

2min

Challenging the Misconception on Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling

4min

The Focus on Data and Information in Circular Energy Storage

2min

Exploring Myths and Challenges in Battery Recycling

10min

Battery Recycling and Collection Rates

20min

Challenges and Opportunities in Repurposing Electric Vehicle Batteries

19min

Battery Recycling and Market Values

12min

Challenges and Opportunities in Battery Recycling

4min

As everyone knows, battery prices are plummeting and manufacturing volumes are soaring, whether for EVs or for grid-connected storage. And everyone knows there's a problem: only 5% of lithium-ion batteries are recycled. The rest go to landfill, right? Wrong. This week's guest on Cleaning Up is the world's preeminent expert on battery recycling. Hans Eric Melin is the Founder and Managing Director of Circular Energy Storage.

Circular Energy Storage is a London-based data collection and analytics consultancy focused on the lithium-ion battery end-of-life market. They help companies and organisations in the entire battery value chain to take better decisions in everything that relates to reuse and recycling of lithium-ion batteries. They do this by continuously collecting, analysing and publishing data from all parts of the value chain worldwide and by working actively with customers in their strategy and business development.

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Links and more:

Circular Energy Storage: https://circularenergystorage.com/about

Hans' LinkedIn post on the false narratives around lithium-ion battery recycling rates: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-rate-other-untruths-battery-recycling-hans-eric-melin-m5lde

Hans' more extensive research report explaining the real rates: https://www.energimyndigheten.se/globalassets/forskning--innovation/overgripande/state-of-the-art-in-reuse-and-recycling-of-lithium-ion-batteries-2019.pdf

The 2023 Battery Materials Review Yearbook, featuring a chapter authored by Hans: https://www.batterymaterialsreview.com/products/

The 2016 paper Hans mentioned, featuring the 95% landfill rate: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11837-016-1994-y

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