It’s time Asia reckoned with lithium-ion batteries’ sustainability problem

The recent tragic explosion at a lithium battery manufacturing facility in South Korea that killed 22 people should be a wake-up call to the world. The Aricell factory housed an estimated 35,000 battery cells on its second floor, where they were inspected and packed. More batteries were stored elsewhere. While the cause of the explosion is unclear, lithium-ion batteries’ flammable properties are well known. Lithium-ion batteries can produce dangerous levels of heat, short circuit easily and can cause fires that are hard to extinguish. That’s why aviation authorities across the world have banned them being shipped as cargo or in checked-in baggage aboard passenger flights. Typically used in electric vehicles (EVs), such batteries have been hailed as a way to steer us towards a petrol-free future. Many even consider the energy they provide green. That’s ironic, because investigations have revealed that lithium-ion batteries have been linked to environmental degradation as well as human rights abuses. For years, mining companies have been extracting billions of dollars worth of lithium from the Atacama region in Chile and in Argentina, where this mining has deeply affected indigenous communities. In China, graphite production for lithium-ion batteries has caused severe pollution. Cobalt, another key ingredient used in ensuring the stability of lithium-ion batteries, is also mined at great cost. For example, child labour is rampant in the mining industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which produces 70 per cent of the world’s cobalt. Even purely from an environmental perspective, lithium-ion batteries are unacceptable. To extract 1 tonne of lithium requires a staggering 1.9 million litres of water. In parts of the world with rich raw material salt deposits needed for the batteries, such as Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, some of the driest conditions prevail, making extraction challenging. The extraction process harms the soil and can cause toxic chemicals to leach into groundwater and potentially poison irrigation facilities. Based on data from the International Energy Agency, for a clean electrified economy by 203o, we would need at least 250,000 to 450,000 tonnes of lithium. In 2022, the world produced only 113,000 tonnes. It stands to reason that the world’s transition to green energy should be powered by something more eco-friendly and that lithium-ion batteries may be almost as bad a choice as fossil fuels. Technology, however, is constantly evolving and the answer to our problems may already be at hand. Sodium batteries have made a quiet debut with few aware of the technology, which is gaining ground in Germany, China and Australia for use in EVs. In these batteries, lithium is replaced by sodium, a component of table salt. These have the potential to unsettle major EV car makers that mostly use lithium-ion batteries, as well as accelerate the process of worldwide electrification. In many ways, it’s a more practical solution and one that Asia should embrace. Sodium-ion batteries have been found to hold up better in colder temperatures. Cold weather can significantly reduce the capacity of lithium-ion batteries. And sodium would be cheaper and is more widely available – at least 400 times more easy to procure than lithium. While Chinese companies have already started mass producing sodium-ion batteries, with CATL and HiNA Battery Technology leading the way, the rest of Asia is waking up to this trend too. India’s first sodium-ion batteries were launched in February. And Japan is working with the European Union to develop alternatives to lithium, with the overriding motive of reducing their dependence on China. Other innovations in battery tech are also under way. Researchers in Germany and South Korea are collaborating on creating a battery that uses seawater. Companies in Sweden and France are also involved in sodium-ion production and exploring alternatives to lithium. Researchers in Portugal are working on glass batteries with early reports indicating that these can outperform lithium-based batteries. If there’s one clear message that’s emerging from these innovations, it’s that Asia should invest more in researching other forms of battery technology. The region’s renewable energy sector is increasing in size, with investments expected to double to US$1.3 trillion over the next decade. However, if Asia wants to stay ahead in the renewable energy race, it must look beyond lithium-ion technology to make progress, especially for the sake of safety. Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, southern India

It’s time Asia reckoned with lithium-ion batteries’ sustainability problem

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Asia can lead the green energy race and improve safety standards by phasing out lithium-ion batteries in favour of sustainable alternatives

Asia can lead the green energy race and improve safety standards by phasing out lithium-ion batteries in favour of sustainable alternatives