The Biden Administration's Climate Technology Subsidies Spur Investment in U.S. Battery Recycling
Published: 7.24.2023
The world is increasingly reliant on batteries. They power our laptops, smartphones, electric vehicles, and even some homes. But what happens to those batteries when they reach the end of their lives?
In many cases, they end up in landfills. This is a problem because batteries contain valuable materials that can be recycled. For example, lithium-ion batteries contain cobalt, nickel, and lithium, which are all essential for making new batteries.
China currently dominates the global battery recycling market. However, the Biden Administration's climate technology subsidies have spurred investment in U.S. battery recycling. This is good news for the environment, as it will help to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.
There are a number of companies that are working to develop new technologies for battery recycling. One of the most promising technologies is hydrometallurgy. Hydrometallurgy uses chemicals to dissolve the metals in batteries, which can then be recovered.
Another promising technology is pyrometallurgy. Pyrometallurgy uses heat to break down batteries, which releases the metals.
The development of new battery recycling technologies is essential for the future of the battery industry. As the demand for batteries continues to grow, it will become increasingly important to recycle old batteries in order to conserve resources.
The Benefits of Battery Recycling
There are a number of benefits to battery recycling. These include:
- Conservation of resources: Recycling batteries helps to conserve valuable resources, such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium. These resources are essential for making new batteries, and they can be in short supply.
- Reduced pollution: Recycling batteries helps to reduce pollution. When batteries are landfilled, they can release harmful chemicals into the environment. Recycling batteries helps to prevent this from happening.
- Economic benefits: The battery recycling industry is growing rapidly, and it is expected to create millions of jobs in the coming years.