Page 9 - Understanding energy storage batteries

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Recyclability

Something else that needs to be considered is the end of life of batteries. At this point in time lithium-ion
batteries are not recyclable and it is questionable whether recycling programs will be set up in the future
without government subsidies. For commercial battery recycling programs to operate it must be economical for
the recycler and this occurs when there are enough components in the battery to make it economical.
Unfortunately, there is little cobalt, nickel or copper in most lithium-ion batteries which reduces their value to
recyclers. Also, there are many varieties of chemical components and system complexities which are
constantly changing and each needs their own recycling process so this will make it difficult to set up lithium-ion
recycling facilities.

Lead acid has up until now been recyclable, however some of the newer sealed gel batteries have the plates
doped which means they are no longer recyclable.

Some countries now insist that recycling costs be included in the purchase costs of battery installations.

SoNick batteries are 100% recyclable and all components of the battery are accounted for in the recycling
process.

Total cost of ownership

When comparing batteries, it is important to take into account total cost of ownership from initial purchase,
through maintenance to end of life disposal. What may appear to be a cheaper battery option when first
considered may in fact be a much more expensive option over the life of a battery when other factors are taken
into account.

When comparing battery costs you need to consider not only battery purchase price but installation costs and
time. If a battery takes 10 hours to install as do many lead acid and some lithium-ion installations this will add
extra costs as opposed to sodium nickel chloride batteries or other plug and play installations.

If a battery is subject to gassing, as lead acid batteries and to a lesser extent lithium-ion batteries are they will
need to be housed in an area where the gassing can’t start a fire. This adds to costs of the battery installation.

Some batteries require maintenance over their lifetimes and this will add extra costs, especially in a commercial
installation where people need to be employed to do this maintenance. This particularly applies to lead acid
batteries which need their fluids topped up and corrosion monitored. Redflow batteries will need their pump
replaced every 5 – 10 years and their plates and bromide solution will also need replacing. This is one area
where lithium-ion batteries don’t have major problems. SoNick batteries are 100% maintenance free.

The operating temperature of a battery can make a big difference to its overall cost. If a battery needs to be
kept in an air-conditioned environment this will add operating costs over its lifetime. This can also be a safety
component as lithium-ion batteries; in particular, can catch fire if they get too hot. There are many safeguards
built into lithium-ion batteries to prevent this happening but a fire can occur in the vicinity of the battery and
not be caused by the battery itself and a lithium-ion battery may still go into thermal runaway if it gets
overheated, no matter what the cause of the heat is.

Expected degradation, recommended depth of discharge, round trip efficiency and expected lifetime of battery
are other factors that need to be taken into account when considering the “total cost of ownership” of a
battery.

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