ED Sciences Chimiques
Life cycle assessment of selected battery-grade materials needed for the energy transition: operational strategies for inventory data collection and generation
by Aina MAS FONS (Institut des Sciences Moléculaires)
The defense will take place at 14h00 - Salle de Conférence (3ème EST) Institut des Sciences Moléculaires Bâtiment A12 — 351 Cours de la Libération 33405 TALENCE cedex
in front of the jury composed of
- Guido SONNEMANN - Professeur - Université de Bordeaux - Directeur de these
- Steven YOUNG - Full professor - University of Waterloo - Rapporteur
- Christoph HELBIG - Full professor - University of Bayreuth - Rapporteur
- Philippe LOUBET - Maître de conférences - Bordeaux INP - CoDirecteur de these
- Marjatta LOUHI-KULTANEN - Associate Professor - Aalto University - Examinateur
- Eric PIRARD - Full professor - University of Liège - Examinateur
A shift away from the current fossil-based energy supply and usage system is imperative to combat global warming. This energy transition prominently features the adoption of battery technologies, especially lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which are considered key for enabling applications like electro-mobility and energy storage. This shift entails a surge in demand for specific materials crucial for LIBs. Closed-loop recycling, especially in the short term, will have limited capacity to meet this demand growth. Therefore, to maintain an overall supply-demand balance, mining and refining raw materials will be necessary. Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impacts associated with the LIBs supply chain is crucial for ensuring their environmental sustainability. In addition, the supply chain is subject to change, with factors like ore grade variations and technological developments potentially influencing environmental impacts. In this context, life cycle assessment (LCA) is the standardized and most widely methodology to assess the environmental burdens associated with products across all stages of their life cycle. Yet, the reliability of LCA results heavily dependent on the availability of appropriate data, particularly when considering future aspects. During the life cycle inventory (LCI) phase, the aim is to identify and quantify the inputs and outputs according to the defined system boundaries. Collecting and generating LCI data is one of the most time-consuming and resource-intensive aspects of LCA studies. However, inventory data that reflects the current state and the potential changes within the LIB supply chain is essential for informed decision-making, and long-term strategy implementation to mitigate environmental burdens within the battery industry. Therefore, this thesis delves into operational strategies for generating and collecting the necessary inventory data for LCA studies of battery-grade materials, considering both current and future supply chain factors. It examines the role of carbon in LIBs as a conductive additive and anode material, discussing the relevance of ensuring battery-grade quality consideration in the LCI and its influence on LCA results. The production of battery-grade acetylene black in Europe is evaluated using primary plant data. Additionally, the trade-offs between natural and synthetic battery-grade graphite are analyzed, with LCA results derived from literature data. Among the identified strategies, a significant focus is placed on the generation of LCI data via process simulations. The state-of-art of coupling process simulation and LCA within the minerals and metals raw materials sector is examined. Building on this, the thesis investigates the extent to which process simulation can be further utilized within the LCA framework to incorporate factors such as ore grade decline or technological developments. Process simulation is applied to two material case studies: the production of lithium carbonate from various sources and ore grades, and the production of nickel sulfate through high-pressure acid leaching or bio-leaching—a technology still at low readiness level. Finally, the thesis discusses the effects of key battery material production factors on the environmental impacts of a battery cell by considering multiple scenarios in the context of the energy transition, and using the data generated and collected within this research. In closing, this thesis underlines the relevancy of using appropriate data for battery-grade materials production and highlight the promising avenue of coupling process simulation with LCA.