{"id":16026,"date":"2021-11-23T09:12:45","date_gmt":"2021-11-23T09:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=16026"},"modified":"2022-08-05T15:30:46","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T14:30:46","slug":"disrupting-battery-recycling-supply-chain-renewable-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/disrupting-battery-recycling-supply-chain-renewable-energy\/16026\/","title":{"rendered":"Disrupting the battery recycling supply chain for renewable energy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Retriev Technologies<\/a> president, Shane Thompson, is redefining the renewable energy future by tapping the power and potential of lithium-ion batteries.<\/h2>\n

Lithium-ion batteries<\/a> are everywhere. They are in smartphones and computers, and they even fuel the invisible powerhouse we call the cloud. Lithium-ion batteries provide uninterrupted power that supports the connections we need to work and live. As demand for those connections (including smartphones) and high-tech devices (including electric vehicles) grows, the demand for the lithium-ion batteries that power them will expand exponentially. It is happening now. By the end of the decade, about half of new car sales from the big three automakers will be electric, longing for renewable energy.<\/p>\n

What will happen to all those batteries when they near the end of their lifespan? That is a question Shane Thompson, President of Retriev Technologies, has been pondering for most of his career.<\/p>\n

Shane\u2019s 20 years of experience focusing on battery end-of-life management has made him one of the world\u2019s leading experts in this rapidly evolving industry. His expertise includes environmental sales for Inco Ltd (now Vale), one of the world\u2019s leading nickel mining companies, driving US policy and regulations related to battery recycling \u2013 and later leading the commercial\/operations team, during his time at Call2Recycle. He has also held roles for commercial leadership at leading North American battery recyclers KBI\/Retriev and Battery Solutions and advising clients through his consulting firm, Verdant Holdings Ltd., on recycling nickel and other energy metals and materials (including rare earths) and the industrial and commercial products of which they are essential ingredients.<\/p>\n

\"Shane
Shane Thompson, President<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In his latest role as President at Retriev Technologies, Shane and his team are working to solve big problems such as renewable energy, by discovering new ways to get the most out of used lithium-ion batteries, and in the process, make the world a better place.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we are doing will represent the most significant change to the carbon economy in history,\u201d said Shane. \u201cTo make that kind of impact, we are striving to build the best end-of-life battery solution company in the world. We will achieve that goal by providing a complete solution \u2014 a total service offering that will make us different from any other company in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

A battery recycling solution for renewable energy<\/h3>\n

In the marketplace, multiple entities are working on different aspects of battery recycling. For example, some companies are looking at a second life for batteries but not recycling them, or vice versa.<\/p>\n

For over 35 years, Retriev Technologies has been a global leader in battery recycling and management. Retriev manages the entire battery lifespan, including replacement battery distribution and warehousing, battery pickup and evaluation, exploring potential reuse applications, end-of-life recycling, and material recovery of critical battery resources.<\/p>\n

Retriev looks at the total picture of renewable energy, and Shane believes the company is uniquely suited to become a complete solution, stating: \u201cOur decades of experience in battery recycling, our expanded collection infrastructure, and our access to trucks, manpower and qualified professionals who know how to handle sensitive materials safely allows Retriev to do what others can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making lithium-ion batteries as reused as a battery can be<\/h3>\n

The first step is safe collection and transportation of batteries when they reach the end of their first life. Then comes sorting through the batteries that have been collected. In the case of lithium-ion battery recycling, there are three main buckets:<\/p>\n