Life Cycle Assessment of Lithium-ion Batteries for Carbon-peaking and Carbon-neutrality: Framework, Methods, and Progress

Abstract

Driven by the Carbon-peaking and Carbon-neutrality strategic goals, lithium-ion batteries usher in significant development opportunities. Meanwhile, it has become a research hotspot for tracking the life cycle carbon footprint and environmental indicators assessment and faced severe challenges in carbon emission calculation and reduction measures. First, the basic framework, methods, evaluation indicators, and other common problems of the life cycle assessment are briefly summarized. Then, a whole life cycle closed-loop assessment route from "cradle" to "cradle" is proposed for the sustainable development of lithium-ion batteries. The research progress of carbon emission calculation at all stages of the battery life cycle (including battery production, battery use, echelon utilization, battery recycling, and remanufacture) is summarized in detail, the potential research hotspots and difficulties are generalized, and a comprehensive evaluation framework of "Technology-Ecology-Value" is proposed. The opportunities and challenges in lithium-ion batteries' life cycle value assessment are discussed, and the resource and supply chain risks are analyzed. Finally, six potential carbon reduction measures for the whole life cycle of lithium-ion batteries are summarized and prospected, such as energy decarbonization, system innovation, intelligent manufacturing, optimization management, material recovery, and carbon capture.