Battery Circular Economy News

1. NEW NSW AND QLD HAZARDOUS WASTE TRACKING SYSTEM - TARGET COMPLETION DATE BEFORE END 2023

The NSW and Queensland Integrated Waste Tracking system project is well underway with a target to complete system development in the second half of 2023. The NSW EPA and Queensland Department of Environment and Science are working towards a system where hazardous waste tracking information only needs to be entered once and will automatically update the system in the other jurisdiction. Paper based forms and reporting will be brought to an end.

Qld and NSW are working with EPA Victoria to interconnect their Waste Tracker system. The goal is to enter information once, with the systems automatically updating each other to meet the legislative and regulatory obligations. Further information is available at the links below.

A number of ABRI members are participating on technical working groups to inform the development of the system by sharing their operational and industry knowledge. If your organisation is not participating and would like to please email, to put forward a representative from your organisation to be part of the process.

ABRI will provide regular updates for all members through ABRI bulletins. ABRI CEO, Katharine Hole, will represent the battery recycling industry on industry wide priorities and issues. ABRI members should reach out to Katharine with feedback, concerns, etc on the project. It will be important to provide feedback and solutions early and address issues as quickly as possible.

Background project documents

Project overview and introduction – Presentation (15 March)

Project Details March 2023 – circulated to stakeholders 31 March

Program Approach & Response to initial industry Q&A – circulated to stakeholders 31 March

2. ABRI SUBMISSIONS TO QLD BATTERY INDUSTRY STRATEGY & CWTH SCIENCE AND RESEARCH PRIORITIES

ABRI continues to engage on behalf of the battery recycling industry to advocate for industry priorities as highlighted in the recent member survey.

ABRI’s latest submissions are:

• ABRI_Qld Battery Strategy Submission – further information on the Powering Queensland’s battery industry project can be found here
• ABRI Submission to national science and research priorities – further information on Australia’s science and research priorities: a conversation starter can be found here

3. IN CASE YOU MISSED THEM - CSIRO REPORT ON STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES & GHD REPORT ON MANAGEMENT OF LARGE SCALE BATTERY HAZARDS

In time for the upcoming long weekend, some reading!

Two reports have been released in the past week on battery technologies:

1. CSIRO Renewable Energy Storage Roadmap – The key takeaways:
   • Storage capacity will grow exponentially. The east coast’s national electricity market (NEM) could require a 10 to 14-fold increase in its electricity storage capacity between 2025-2050.
   • There is a range of storage technology options, both commercial and under development, with different strengths and weaknesses depending on end use. The report provides a good summary of the strengths and limitations of these technologies.
   • Recycling – the report touches on actions to support a battery circular economy including linkages between battery recycling and raw materials processing.
2. Australian Energy Council commissioned GHD report on Battery Energy Storage Systems – Guidance Report. The key takeaways:
   • A large-scale BESS site has risks, but with appropriate safety assessment processes, expertise and priority, these risks can be managed.
   • Expertise is an understandable challenge with a new and changing technology. The challenge of finding experts applies to industry as much as regulatory authorities and emergency management authorities.
   • Guidance material is being developed but varies between regions. The Australian energy industry would benefit from a single, comprehensive, and consistently maintained source of guidance.

4. EMERGING ONLINE MARKET PLATFORMS FOR TRADING USED EV BATTERIES

Opportunities for ABRI members to build their B2B networks are growing. As mentioned in the 30 March Member Bulletin, the ABRI website is one pathway for reaching potential customers. It received over 1,500 visits to the commercial battery recycling search function in the March Quarter.

There are also web based platforms emerging that will provide a central marketplace for connecting companies with unwanted products and materials with companies who can recycle and/or reuse these products and materials. This type of approach could be used for transacting used EV and BESS batteries. 

In Europe, Cling Systems has developed a market platform for aggregating used EV li-ion batteries from car dismantlers, repair workshops, production lines, and other collectors worldwide. Cling Systems is also developing a data module to map out information on battery packs including their chemistries, cells and modules. This allows sellers and buyers to value the battery and its potential for second life applications or raw material content for recycling. Their byline is Building the Online Mine. 

The latest platform to come to ABRI’s attention is The Surpluss, which is starting up in Australia building on operations in the UAE and the UK.

Surpluss advises The platform creates an intelligent ecosystem for buyers of used batteries or other used materials to collaborate with interested buyers. For example, holders of used batteries/materials across Australia can put these on the platform, so interested parties can source according to the frequency of output and proximity. The system also tracks financial performance (such as revenue made/saved) and sustainability performance (such as landfill diversion in KG, links with the UN Sustainable Development Goals) so exchanges can be quantified for management reporting. 

The Surpluss is industry agnostic, the battery value chain can supplement or benefit from other industries that form part of the overall ecosystem such as mining, renewables and e-waste to create cross-sector efficiencies that typically would not occur. There is also an opportunity to lease out surplus, such as idle assets/machinery, co-share warehouse space, and many others to reduce overhead costs and participate in the sharing economy as an accessible route to the circular economy with a practical edge. 

The Surpluss won’t replace the emerging supply chain traceability and digital passports, it helps drive the much needed collaboration and the identification of underused and undervalued resources to make help make give businesses the information they need to drive both financial and environmental sustainability in their firms.

ABRI is looking to organise a presentation from The Surpluss in coming months.

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