Researchers from the Center for Energy and Petroleum Studies (Cepetro) at Unicamp have begun studies to develop a digital battery “passport” – a tracking system for these devices that will map their complete life cycle, from the extraction of the ore used in their manufacturing through to reuse, recycling and eventual disposal. The project, expected to last three years, to be carried out with the participation of around 15 researchers, is funded by the French multinational TotalEnergies. It is part of a R$22,9 million agreement signed in June by Unicamp and the company providing for the execution of six projects, all in the areas of solar energy and batteries.
“We want to understand batteries from the cradle to disposal or recycling. It's as if you put a tracking chip on them, at every stage they go through, to map the processes and know how much carbon dioxide they emit, how much electricity and water were used and who is responsible for recycling them. ”, says Professor Hudson Zanin, project coordinator at Cepetro and professor at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Feec) at Unicamp.
The system thus intends to cover the entire production chain. From the extraction of the ore, transportation by truck, train or ship, the production itself – generally carried out in China – and the delivery and use of the product in the destination countries. “After the cells are manufactured, they pass through several owners, such as the importer and the vehicle or electronics manufacturer, before reaching the consumer. You need to know who will take care of battery recycling. Knowing who actually owns the battery between the manufacturer and the end user. It is necessary to regulate.”
The researcher explains that the group intends to develop an online platform with technology blockchain, connecting several companies in the same data chain. “No company that manufactures batteries wants to give information to others. The data will be encrypted, as information is extremely valuable and it is necessary to obtain this information in such a way that the owners of this data are protected”, highlights Zanin, explaining the reasons for using this technology. The system will apply to any battery, regardless of the technology used to manufacture it or its purpose – whether for electric vehicles, cell phones or industry.
Information about the useful life of the device, such as how it is used over time, will also help to develop models to predict the health status of batteries and better strategies for charging and discharging, classification, evaluation risk level and optimizations for a second use. “This is a project about data. With information about charging and discharging, the state of charge and health of this battery and how it is being cycled depending on currents and temperatures. With this you can predict how long it will last”, says the Unicamp researcher. Different conditions and forms of use can significantly change the efficiency and duration of a battery. “From a commercial point of view, this makes a big difference in business models. It’s not just about the environmental issue”, says Zanin.
To develop the platform, researchers will create models based on public data made available in thousands of scientific articles about, for example, testing different car batteries. With data pre-treatment and a predictive model on battery health, the idea is to make this information available online.
According to the project coordinator, the platform will be interesting for the battery industry, car manufacturers, governments and the environment, as it favors recycling and brings more transparency to the process. “Today we don’t know who owns the batteries and how they end up in the landfill. And the problem is that the volume of batteries will still increase a lot in the coming years,” he says. “The project will contribute to this awareness. And it will help to map and provide better use of these devices.”
According to Zanin, Brazil will be able to follow in the footsteps of the European Union (EU) in regulating batteries. In June, the European Parliament approved measures to strengthen sustainability rules in the manufacture, use and disposal of batteries, whether portable, electric or industrial vehicles, establishing requirements, targets and obligations for manufacturers. There will be mandatory minimum levels of recycled metals in the composition of new batteries – initially they will have to have 16% recycled cobalt, 6% lithium and 6% nickel. Batteries will also have to have documentation on the recycled content present in their composition. Some goals must be met in 2025 and 2027.
“By regulating, a regulatory framework for the sector is created. Anyone who wants to participate in this environment must follow these rules and place the minimum necessary information on these future platforms. Brazil needs to have this technology too, so it doesn't need to buy it later”, says Zanin. “If there is regulation in the country, we won’t have to pay for it later. There will also be a local solution.”
