Research project
High-Quality Life Cycle Assessment for the Battery Value Chain (HiQ-LCA)
HiQ-LCA aims to deliver an independent, high-quality Life Cycle Assessment database for use in industrial battery LCA case studies
- Duration
- 2023 - 2025
- Contact
- Robert Istrate
- Funding
- EIT RawMaterials
-
European Union
- Partners
Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM), France
Ecoinvent, Switzerland
ERAMET, France
European Lithium Institute eLi
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Germany
Ghent University, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Research Group Sustainable Systems Engineering, Belgium
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Sweden
Leiden University, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Netherlands
Minviro Ltd, UK
Northvolt AB, Sweden
Université de Bordeaux, Institute of Molecular Sciences, CyVi Group, France
Short abstract
Twelve well-known companies and research institutions will build a battery LCA database and related battery-specific services for companies who are operating along the value chain and who want to reliably determine the carbon footprint of their processes and products due to the new EU Battery Regulation.
Project description
The European Union, with its Green Deal, has set a goal of net zero emission cars, which is driving the growing market for electric vehicles. However, electrical mobility is often criticized for the environmental impact of the battery value chain and insufficient recycling activities. The European HiQ-LCA project aims to change this situation by enabling more reliable LCA based on better data.
Based on the improved data, a unique Life Cycle Inventory database will be developed. The HiQ‐LCA project team seeks also to develop innovative LCA services. Advanced methods for battery‐specific LCA services will be provided to the battery supply chain industries and other stakeholders on a professional basis. These services will include quantifying and verifying environmental footprints, benchmarking, certification of products and guidance to improve environmental performance. Furthermore, training for professionals will be offered to improve the knowledge on means and techniques to lower the environmental footprint of battery production, usage and recycling.
Leiden University contributes to the HiQ-LCA projects by developing future-oriented life cycle inventory datasets as a basis to anticipate future environmental impacts related to the large-scale deployment of electric mobility. Different scenarios will be explored to anticipate important drivers of change for the environmental impacts of the battery value chain. Significant attention will be given to the future supply of minerals and metals critical to electric vehicle batteries, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite.