The batteries and batteries They are increasingly present in daily life. Beyond industrial activities or telephone devices, the use of this type of system for electric vehicles, bicycles or scooters predict an increase in demand 10 times higher than the current one between now and 2030. In this framework, the Council of the European Union (EU) has given the green light to a new regulation that is about bring order to the industry with new rules that go from design to waste treatment of any type of cells and batteries, whether produced in the EU or imported.
The new standard replaces the current 2006 Battery Directive and directs its focus to create a circular economy In a market “increasingly strategic at the global level”. Among the novelties, it will force them to provide themselves with a “passport” that “maximizes the information exchangeenable tracking and tracing of batteries and provide information on the carbon intensity of its manufacturing processes as well as the origin of the materials used and whether renewable materials are used.”
Thus, the regulation distinguishes between Different types batteries or batteries such as those that are portable devicesthe batteries industrial (those used for all types of industrial activities, communications infrastructure, agricultural activities, or generation and distribution of electrical energy), batteries for electric vehicles or those directed to light means of transport Like the electric scootersamong other.
It is expected that “more than half of the world production of some raw materials is destined for cell or battery applications”. Thus, more than 50% of the world demand for cobalt and more than 60% of the planet’s lithium are used for the production of cells or batteries and around 8% of the world production of natural graphite and 6% of world nickel production.
In this sense, some Required Minimum Recycled Content Levels in industrial, automotive and electric vehicle batteries 16% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 6% for lithium and 6% for nickel. And a lithium recovery target from waste cells and batteries of 50% is established by the end of 2027 and 80% by the end of 2031.
In addition, producers are made “responsible” for “financing and organizing” the pickup separated from waste batteries or batteries through a “return and collection network and information campaigns” close to the end user. and settle down waste collection targets batteries or portable batteries 63% by the end of 2027 and 73% by the end of 2030. In addition, in the case of light transport batteries, a specific collection target of 51% is introduced by the end of 2028 and 61% by the end of 2031.
The new standard also sets for the end of 2027 that batteries or portable batteries incorporated into the devices must be removable and replaceable by the end user, with the exception of batteries for light means of transport, which must be replaceable by an independent professional.
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“Batteries and batteries are clue for the process of decarbonization and the EU’s transition to emission-free means of transport. At the same time, at the end of their useful life they contain many valuable resources and we must be able to re-use these fundamental raw materials instead of depending on third countries for their supply”, said the Third Vice President and Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Riberawho is in Valladolid presiding over the meetings of the Informal Council on Energy and Climate that is celebrated between this Monday and Wednesday in this city.
In fact, a meeting of ministers on strategic autonomy will be held on Wednesday with the participation of Jon AsinCEO of the Navarrese company beeplanetcompany that gives a second life to car batteries to use them as storage. “There is emerging a market for industrial batteries and used electric vehicle batteries and, with a view to supporting the practical application of the waste hierarchy, should be set specific rules for a responsible adaptation of used batteries, while taking into account the precautionary principle and guaranteeing the safety of use for end users”, says the regulation.