Repurposing and Recycling: The Future of Retired EV Batteries and Wind Turbines

As the green economy grows, innovative solutions are being developed to manage the waste from retired electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines.

More than 100 million EV batteries are expected to be retired over the next decade, creating a significant waste management challenge.
Retired EV batteries are being repurposed for solar energy storage, but this is a relatively new concept that needs to build a track record of performance.
Recycling is seen as a future solution for retired EV batteries, with valuable materials such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium being recovered for reuse.
Efforts are underway to establish battery recycling alongside lithium extraction and battery manufacturing operations near the Salton Sea.
Old wind turbine blades are being repurposed into outdoor furniture and other products, with 20 companies receiving funding from the Department of Energy to develop sustainable recycling solutions for wind turbines.