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Lithium-Ion Batteries Need to Be Greener and Ethical

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Lithium-Ion Batteries Need to Be Greener and Ethical

Batteries are key to humanity’s future – but they come with environmental and human costs, which must be mitigated.

Nature,

5 min read
4 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Lithium-ion batteries are central to a low-carbon future, but production and disposal cause problems.

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • Applicable
  • Background

Recommendation

Lithium-ion batteries are so integral to modern life, there’s a good chance you have one within arm’s reach right now. And they’re becoming even more important as people seek to reduce climate threats by electrifying their energy system. The only problem is that both production and disposal harm those who mine the raw materials as well as the environment. This opinion piece offers valuable advice for maximizing benefit while reducing harm by enhancing the reuse and recycling of lithium-ion batteries, and reducing the hazards associated with extracting the raw materials that go into them.

Summary

Lithium-ion batteries are the linchpin of the energy transition.

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are a staple of modern life. They power phones and laptops, are integral to electric vehicles, and will be increasingly important for electricity storage as people integrate intermittent sources such as solar and wind power into electric grids. The global market for lithium-ion batteries is expected to more than triple to US$100 billion between 2017 and 2025.

They have troubling environmental impacts.

Mining of lithium and cobalt, two key components of lithium-ion batteries, takes lots of water and energy...

About the Author

The editorial staff of Nature produced this editorial as part of a 2021 series on materials and the circular economy.

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