What's Your Problem? Giving Old Batteries New Life
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Jul 3, 2025 Megan O’Connor, co-founder and CEO of Nth Cycle, discusses revolutionizing battery recycling and the need for sustainable energy solutions. She shares insights on innovative technologies for refining and recycling critical metals like nickel and cobalt. The conversation dives into the challenges startups face in securing funding for green technologies and the importance of sustainable supply chains. O’Connor also reflects on her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, blending her passion for chemistry with her leadership role in a rapidly evolving industry.
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Battery Metals Supply Challenge
- The global shift to clean energy requires massive battery production, demanding large amounts of critical metals.
- Significant refining of these metals occurs mainly in China, complicating supply security, especially in the U.S. and Europe.
Megan's Persistent Industry Entrance
- Megan O'Connor persistently badgered a professor for weeks to attend a closed industry meeting as a scribe.
- There she learned that leading companies were unsure how to handle growing electronic waste and supply chain challenges.
E-Waste Crisis Looms
- Electronic waste is a growing problem, exacerbated by clean energy tech like EVs retiring in the future.
- Companies want to lead in sustainability but lack solutions to manage waste and uncertain supply chains.