Grant: Alliance Grants

To achieve the commitment of reducing carbon emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, energy storage systems have great potential to help the world escape dependence on fossil fuels and adopt an environmentally friendly method to power our transportation. The global increase in electric mobility is driving demand for EV batteries, resulting in substantial growth in battery production over the next few years. There's also a significant increase in retiring EV batteries, with over 100 million expected to reach the end of their lifespan in the next decade. This presents an opportunity to build a more stable, resilient, efficient, and sustainable supply chain compared to the fossil-fuel and internal combustion engine vehicle industry. In addition, the transition to a clean energy system is poised to significantly elevate the demand for these minerals, signifying the energy sector's emergence as a prominent player in mineral markets. The key to pursuing this opportunity for critical minerals is battery recycling. Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have recently emerged as a promising alternative energy storage system due to their ability to overcome the safety concerns presented by the flammable liquid electrolytes (LEs) used in traditional Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Given that SSBs are still in the developmental phase and are yet to attain mass production, there is a substantial opportunity to meticulously strategize and establish recycling processes that will underpin a sustainable system. The primary goal of this Alliance-Mission project is to develop a comprehensive and novel route for the direct recycling of solid-state batteries. This project will strengthen Canada's capacity for critical minerals in the key elements (such as Li, Co, Ni, Mn, etc.) with state-of-the-art facilities alongside experienced industrial partners, positioning Canada as a world leader in the field of battery recycling and achieving the net-zero goal.