What happens to batteries at the end of their use life?

To minimise the use of rare and precious metals, batteries should be optimised to allow for durability and recycling at their end of life.

Zero Emissions Services marine ZESPack is guaranteed to last 10 years. After 10 years, the capacity of the batteries is reduced by about 20%. Use of the ZESPack for another 10 years is possible in numerous other applications. At the end of this lifespan, the materials can be recovered and made suitable for reuse. Due to the long service life of the ZESPack, the system saves far more in emissions than it costs to build the batteries. (From Zero Emissions Services)

Image courtesy of Zero Emissions Services

The SPBES PlanB CellSwapTM is a retrofit process to rebuild the inside of a battery onboard a vessel. The cells in the core of the battery can be replaced when nearing the end of their life. If there is a requirement to service the cell stack, then the battery is removed from the ship and sent to the service depot. Since the cells can be replaced individually, only the cells at the end of their life need replacing instead of the entire battery. Other items, such as electronics and racking, are reused. There is no need for costly refit of existing hardware, only the consumable parts such as the cells are replaced.

SPBES offers support from commissioning to recycling, consisting of:

• Options for re-coring or recycling the system, including time and costs
• System decommissioning and arrangement for delivery of consumables to accredited recycling facilities included in the cost of the LPA
• A report of proof of recycling provided

– From SHIFT Clean Energy