Energy transition is rapidly becoming a household topic. The attention of many nations is now being redirected to clean and renewable energy. The conversation is no longer centered on if the world should transit, but how fast this transition should happen. Recently, like many other nations, the Nigerian government took positive and commendable steps towards responding to this clarion call. But, while efforts are being made to speed up and encourage the transition, certain critical factors that pertain to the future of the transition need to be discussed.
Renewable energy technology is built with the core aim of reducing the amount of carbon emission. In simple terms, this technology converts renewable energy from nature to usable electricity for our daily consumption. In this noiseless cycle, there is a need for the storage of this converted energy thus making energy storage a core area of the entire renewable energy discus. It is safe to say that the concept of renewable energy depends on this storage technology and in modern times, batteries are used for this storage purposes. Batteries like Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, Lead — acid batteries, Redox flow batteries, Sodium — sulfur batteries and Zinc — bromine flow batteries are some of the most common options. But, the most popular in this short list is the Lithium — ion battery.
According to WattLogic, Lithium-ion batteries are the most common type of batteries used today and make up to 90% of the global energy grid battery storage market. Lithium batteries are used in almost everything. Cell phones, laptops, clocks, scooters, medical equipment, wireless headphones, handheld power tools, and electric vehicles. Their wide usage can be credited to their long lifespan and durability over the other battery alternatives. Lithium batteries have also been attributed to having high round-trip efficiency, high energy and power density, and a low self-discharge rate.
It is no longer a secret that lithium is critical to the energy transition campaign, but the disturbing reality remains that the entire process of lithium mining is largely not renewable. The extraction and use of Lithium have made many enthusiasts and conservationists question if indeed our solutions are a way forward or just refurbished problems. Although Lead-acid batteries are said to be more eco-friendly and renewable, Lithium batteries have remained the go-to for renewable energy installations. This is as a result of the numerous advantages lithium has over lead-acid when used by consumers.
The Lithium Triangle is the world’s largest lithium reserve. It is a lithium-rich region in the Andean southwest corner of South America spanning the borders of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia. It is estimated that it hosts about 54% of the world’s lithium resources. The Lithium Triangle like many other lithium reserves is one of the driest places on earth. The mining process has a traditional and modern approach. The traditional approach involves two methods. First is building a mine to extract the clay or ore and then separating the metal from the extracted clay. The second is to pump underground water deposits to the surface where the resulting pools of briny liquids are left to evaporate, and the lithium is then removed from the dried salt that remains.
These traditional processes have been the age-long means of extracting lithium but they are accompanied by many negative consequences on the environment. The large amount of water used in the process coupled with the acres of dirt and rock that disrupt nearby lands and destroy plants and animals. The modern approach entails direct lithium extraction that uses no water at all and is said to have lesser effects on the land being used. This modern approach is yet to receive popularity because the cost does not always favor investments.
Asides the modern approach of mining, another renewable recommendation available for the lithium industry is the recycling of already used lithium batteries. Studies have shown that the traditional methods of recycling can only recover around 40 to 50% of the valuable resources in the batteries. Added to that, the recycling process is not economically recoverable to a high grade for use in battery production and it also processes a large amount of solid and gas waste. This reality makes it difficult to associate the use of lithium as a renewable energy storage system. Although other means of recycling lithium continue to surface, it still not enough to cover up the needed vacuum.
It is essential that the world shifts focus from the use of mined lithium to the use of recycled lithium instead. Although less practicable, this will provide a safe net for the future of renewable energy to thrive without causing more harm to the environment.