DATA CENTRES
" A commitment to best practices with regards to taking back defective and end-of-life batteries is helping reduce the environmental impact of Li-ion , whilst its recycling processes continue to be established and mature ," adds Garner .
Interestingly , the electric vehicle market is paving the way for second-use applications . Alongside this , other examples of second-use Li-ion cells being utilised include microgrid applications , and hospitals to support emergency lighting .
Looking forward , recycling technologies are also set to improve dramatically . Established pyrometallurgical techniques are already being applied to Li-ion batteries at end of life to recover the cobalt and nickel elements . Alongside this , newer hydrometallurgical techniques are being developed , which could recover over 95 % of all constituent materials .
Given the high sustainability performance of these batteries , and the ongoing innovations in their manufacturing and recycling that market demand is driving , Li-ion batteries will hold a key role in the green data centres of the future . " Although there are inevitable environmental impacts emerging with the growth of this resilient and energyefficient technology when evaluated holistically , it ' s clear that Li-ion batteries offer a more sustainable solution for UPS systems ," Garner asserts .
" When combined with the characteristics of more compact design , lighter weight , longer lifecycle and more reliable performance , they make a compelling case for use in an industry where both space and uptime are at a premium ." datacentremagazine . com 49