Renewable energy sources are limited and less reliable in comparison to their fossil fuel counterparts; the supply of energy gained from renewable resources often depends on climate and weather, such as in the case of solar or wind energy. As climate change becomes an increasingly less reversible issue, it is extremely important to find methods to supply global energy needs via renewable resources; this task is a key aspect of achieving UN Sustainable Development goals 7, 11, and 13. Batteries are a convenient, energy-dense, and versatile storage medium to offset the shortcomings of variable and less abundant renewable sources. Battery technology has advanced greatly in recent years in two key areas: lifetime and efficiency. The current drawback of widespread battery usage is their production and disposal. Production requires energy-intensive extraction processes and large amounts of precious rare earth elements. Due to the combination of elements used in production, disposal imposes hazards to health and the environment. These concerns raise tensions between diplomacies and environmental groups alike, making sustainable battery engineering a topic of discussion at the November 2022 COP27 UN climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Measures for more sustainable production of batteries for large-scale use as discussed at COP27 will be presented.

Comprehensive look into advancements in sustainable battery technology for green energy

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.