How far are we from disbanding the use of environmentally toxic LiPo?

Lithium-Ion as we know it technically, or 'rechargeable battery' as we commonly refer to in current times is what LiPo (Lithium Polymer) battery is basically. The extensive research on lithium-ion and lithium-metal reached a significant milestone when LiPo cells were first made commercial in a cylindrical shape by SONY during 1980s. Today, the most popular format is the flat-pouch design used massively in smartphones globally. 

According to NS ENERGY BUSINESS website Li-Ion batteries could be the economic solution to replacing the fossil fuel plants. However, lithium-ion grid-scale storage system would involve an enormous sum of approximately $2.5t in order to meet energy demand of just 80% of The USofA. 

The problems are not limited to storage but also the hazards of lithium on the habitat surrounding the mines. The Ganzizhou Rongda lithium mine in Tibet has seen an increased amount of mining activity. Leak from the mine is said to have made the nearby Liqi river toxic, and the result of which was mass death of fish from this river. Even the livestock has been affected by drinking water from this river. The affect being death. Chinese automotive firm BYD (Build Your Dreams) which is also the largest supplier of lithium-ion batteries for smartphones and other forms of technologies, is one of the companies undertaking mining operations in this area. 

Going by the report of NS Energy Business website, Chile is the second-biggest lithium producer after Australia. In Chile, miners drill holes into salt flats to pump salty, mineral-rich brine to the surface. In order for the liquid to evapourate the holes are left open for about eighteen months. Then, lithium carbonate is scooped up for turning into metallic lithium. Further, hydrochloric acid is used for lithium process which in return has a negative environmental impact on the nearby habitat, grasslands and rivers. It is to note that for every tonne of lithium produced half a million gallons of water is used in process. In Salar de Atacama, 65% of the water was used in the process causing direct impact on the revenue of farmers in adjoining areas. 

Lithium itself is toxic, and in order to process it other forms of toxic chemicals are used. The release of these toxic chemicals through leaching, spills or air emissions (beyond permitted or unchecked norms) have a direct harmful impact on the communities, ecosystems and food chain as well as food production. Air contamination and harmful soil-impact are inevitable threat caused by lithium extraction.

The recycle technologies, platforms and infrastructures are not globally spread to meet the demands of recycling used or waste batteries. In Australia only 2% of country's 3,300 tonnes of lithium-ion waste is recycled. This figure is from last quarter of 2019. To top up the catastrophic situations, fluids from these batteries leaking into landfills still remains unchecked.

Today, 70% of cobalt, an essential for making lithium battery alongside lithium, nickel and manganese, and a precious element in making of an electric car comes from DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). It is worth to keep an eye upon, as in future China could hold monopoly in the business in this region considering its nature of global investment opportunities. 

Ice Earth would like to bring its readers to the awareness that on one hand 'ethical steps' and innovations hold the key to safeguarding the balance of our natural environment and ecosystem, while on the other if new sources of renewable energy carrier offloads are not implement globally soon enough, the balance of automotive and energy storage may shift to a new power-horse. 

Sweden and Slovenia is somewhat leading the known research front on replacing lithium-ion battery with an aluminium one. It must be said that there are rumours aluminium battery have large-scale applications including storage of solar and wind energy. That's a whole lot of positive energy to store for future.

Ice Earth would also like its readers to invest in planet friendly investment opportunities (stocks, shares, company, startups, ideas, concept, etc.), and take charge to progress towards protecting our polar ice caps in near future. That day is not far, and our team believes with sustained and step-by-step effort the dream shall be realized. The opportunities to invest are huge, ranging from toys to military grade technologies, i.e. UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), Drones, Online Shopping, Smartphones, Electric Vehicles, Battery-Powered Cars, CNG Companies, Bio Fuel Company, Nuclear Technology, Solar Energy, among others. There is always a choice right before that final payment we make. Make it count.

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(Note: The article are views of the writer and hold no personal confrontations)