Two-thirds of all battery-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions occur in China (45 pc), Indonesia (13pc), and Australia (9pc), according to a new study by researchers at three universities.
Total emissions from battery manufacturing were 23.75mn t CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) in 2020. This could rise to 300-600mn t CO₂e under various different scenarios modelled by the study using the current mix of battery technologies, with the highest numbers reflecting scenarios with the biggest rollout of electric vehicles (EVs).
But the emissions impact of battery manufacture can be greatly reduced by reducing the grid intensity of manufacturing regions — helping offset the impact of the rise of EVs.
This is particularly true in China and Indonesia, which have amongst the highest grid intensities in the world.
“Electricity consumption contributes approximately 37pc to the total current GHG emissions of lithium-ion battery manufacture, so decarbonisation of the electricity sector is an important lever in reducing the overall life cycle emissions,” the report says.
Under a 'stated policies scenario', GHG emissions per battery unit reduce by 20-22pc by 2050, while under a more ambitious 'sustainable development scenario', GHG emissions would reduce by 37-39pc per unit by 2050.
Increased battery recycling rates could also reduce demand for primary materials, which are more emissions-intensive than secondary ones, cutting overall emissions.
LFP batteries have lower GHG emissions than any of the nickel-based chemistries, and with the expiry of the LFP patent in 2022, major automotive manufacturers are showing interest in them — particularly for entry-level high-volume BEVs.
Breakthroughs in battery technologies such as lithium-sulphur, lithium-silicon, lithium-air, solid-state, and sodium-ion batteries were not included in the analysis but also have the potential to pave the way to further emissions reductions, the study notes.
The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Sheffield, Toronto and Nottingham and was partly funded by Saudi Aramco Technologies Company.
Tom is an experienced business writer, specialised in the energy transition
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