(524b) Closed Loop Systems for Critical Materials and Energy Transition

According to the 2020 Global E-Waste Monitor Report, nearly 53 million metric tons of electronic waste (e-waste) was generated globally in 2019, a 21% increase over 2014. Of that 53 million tons, only 17.4% was recycled. As a result, critical materials like gold, silver, copper, and platinum ended up in landfills, while the production of new electronics contributed significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and the release of hazardous chemicals due to mining, extraction, processing, manufacturing, and delivery of virgin materials. To prevent similar consequences with clean energy technologies like wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, and electric vehicle batteries, NREL is applying circular economy principles to redesign, repair, reuse, remanufacture, and recycle materials, components, and systems. These individual efforts can contribute to the development of closed loop systems. Further by optimizing scalable, economic circularization; carbon emissions, supply chain risks, and environmental and social justice burdens can be diminished.

Dr. Maria Curry-Nkansah, strategic lead for NREL’s Circular Economy for Advanced Energy Materials, will present results of some novel approaches NREL researchers are taking to enable greater material recovery, low emission materials substitutions, and extension of useful life for wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, electric vehicle batteries and construction materials.