Publications

Kamran M., Raugei M., Hutchinson A.-   Energy storage, particularly electrochemical storage, is poised to be a cornerstone in allowing those sectors to become more sustainable. This study presents the results of an integrated dynamic material flow analysis of the cumulative demand for lithium-ion battery metals (Li, Co, Ni and Mn) by the light duty vehicle...

Jones B., Elliott R., Nguyen-Tien V.-  Mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is anticipated in the years ahead, driven primarily by policy incentives, rising incomes, and technological advancements. However, mass adoption is predicated on the availability and affordability of the raw materials required to facilitate this transformation. The implications of material shortages are currently not...

Jones, B., Elliott, RJR, Nguyen-Tien, V.-  In this policy brief we consider the implications for the availability and affordability of the raw materials required to facilitate the energy transition, particularly the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). The impacts on mineral demand are currently not well understood.

Thompson D., Hartley J., Lambert S., Shiref M., Harper G., Kendrick E., Anderson P., Ryder K., Gaines L., Abbott A.-  Recycling is always seen as an end-of-pipe process returning as much material as possible into a circular economy. There is a growing school of thought that suggests product design should be an important step in...

Rajaeifar M., Heidrich O., Ghadimi P., Raugei M., Wu Y. 

Sommerville R., Zhu P., Rajaeifar M., Heidrich O., Goodship V., Kendrick E.-   With the widespread adoption of e-mobility, there are high numbers of lithium Ion batteries (LIB) entering the waste stream. It is imperative that disposal and recycling strategies are developed and implemented. There is an urgent need for safe, environmentally friendly and economically affordable...

Sommerville R., Shaw-Stewart J., Goodship V., Rowson N., Kendrick E.-    A review of separating methods used in domestic and electric vehicle lithium ion battery recycling is presented, focusing on physical processes which are commonly utilized prior to further chemical processing and purification steps. The four processes of stabilization, disassembly, separation and binder negation are...

Harper G., Sommerville R., Kendrick E., Driscoll L., Slater P., Stolkin R., Walton A., Christensen P., Heidrich O., Lambert S., Abbott A., Ryder K., Gaines L., Anderson P.- Rapid growth in the market for electric vehicles is imperative, to meet global targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to improve air quality in urban centres and to...

Energy return on investment (EROI) is a key metric of the viability of energy resources. Many studies have focused on EROI at point of extraction, resulting in deceptively high numbers for fossil fuels, and inconsistent comparisons to renewables. In a recent Nature Energy paper, Brockway et al. (2019) set the record straight.

Energy return on investment (EROI) is a critical measure of the comparative utility of different energy carriers, including fossil fuels and renewables. However, it must not be used to compare carriers that cannot be put to similar end-use. In addition, combining carriers to arrive at estimates of ‘average’ or ‘minimum’ EROIs can be problematic.