Abstract: Battery-powered electric cars (BEVs) play a key role in future mobility scenarios. However, little is known about the environmental impacts of the production, use and disposal of the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery. This makes it difficult to compare the environmental impacts of BEVs with those of internal combustion engine cars (ICEVs). Consequently, a detailed lifecycle inventory of a Li-ion battery and a rough LCA of BEV based mobility were compiled. The study shows that the environmental burdens of mobility are dominated by the operation phase regardless of whether a gasoline-fueled ICEV or a European electricity fueled BEV is used. The share of the total environmental impact of E-mobility caused by the battery (measured in Ecoindicator 99 points) is 15%. The impact caused by the extraction of lithium for the components of the Li-ion battery is less than 2.3% (Ecoindicator 99 points). The major contributor to the environmental burden caused by the battery is the supply of copper and aluminum for the production of the anode and the cathode, plus the required cables or the battery management system. This study provides a sound basis for more detailed environmental assessments of battery based E-mobility.
Abstract: Umicore Precious Metal Refining (UPMR) runs a high-tech industrial metal refinery which recovers 17 different metals from end-of-life consumer products and from by-products of the non-ferrous industry. We present an approach for an attributive gate-to-gate LCA study of this system, which is characterised by multi-input/multi-output processes, changing feed compositions and time lags. We propose five assumptions to reduce the complexity of the highly dynamic system. We compiled inventory data for over thirty sub-processes and allocated it over the metals passing the sub-process by either a mass-based or metal revenue based allocation. The exemplary results for rhodium, platinum, tellurium and copper (impact assessment method: global warming potential) show a high dependence of allocation choice and different patterns of the metals for metal revenue based allocation due to the high volatility of prices.
Abstract: Emerging technologies such as information and communication-, photovoltaic- or battery technologies are expected to significantly increase the demand for scarce metals in the near future. The recently developed methods to evaluate the criticality of mineral raw materials typically provide a ‘snapshot’ of the criticality of a certain material at one point in time by using static indicators both for supply risk and for the impacts of supply restrictions or economic importance. While allowing for insights into the mechanisms behind the criticality
of raw materials, these methods cannot account for continuous changes in products and/or activities over time. We propose an approach which goes beyond this static state of the art insofar as it includes the dynamic interactions between different possible demand and supply configurations as a precondition for the evaluation of criticality. The framework developed integrates an agent-based behavior model, where demand emerges
from individual agent decisions and interaction, into a dynamic material flow model, representing the materials’ stocks and flows across their lifetime. Within this framework, the evaluation of criticality is exemplarily specified for the environmental dimension by applying life-cycle assessment methodology.
Abstract: With the increasing scarce metals demand from emerging technologies such as information-, photovoltaic- or battery technologies, a (scientific and public) debate has arisen over the ques-tion, if the diffusion of these technologies could possibly be limited by future supply restrictions for mineral raw materials. Recently, several indicator-based assessment methods have been developed to evaluate the criticality of mineral raw materials, for example by the National Research Council or the European Commission. The main drawback of these methods is that they typically provide a ‘snapshot’ of the criticality of a certain material at one point in time by using static indicators for supply risk and impact of supply restrictions or economic importance. Although these methods provide insights into the mechanisms behind the criticality of raw materials, they cannot account for changes in products or activities over time. Moreover, they do not fully consider the evolution of background systems on which these products or activities depend (e.g. energy - and raw material supply chains).
The approach we propose goes beyond this state of the art insofar as it includes dynamic interactions between different possible demand and supply configurations as a precondition for the evaluation of criticality. In our integrated framework, demand emerges from individual agent decisions, while the supply chain is represented by material stocks and flows. As a consequence, the framework links an agent-based demand model with a dynamic material flow model. In addition, it also includes a module for the subsequent evaluation of criticality, which is exemplarily specified for the environmental dimension of criticality by applying life-cycle assessment methodology. In our contribution we will sketch the framework and discuss first experiences from its implementation in a case study related to rare earth elements.
