Sustainability factors of Li-ion batteries for UPS applications

Interest and demand continue to grow for lithium-ion batteries as a replacement for VRLA batteries for UPS applications because of benefits such as smaller size and longer life expectancy. But there are many questions decision makers still have regarding the impact these batteries have on sustainability. The full environmental and social impact includes mining practices of the raw materials, the manufacturing process of the batteries, operations, and how to re- purpose or recycle them when they reach the end of their useful life. In this paper, Schneider Electric demonstrate that, while not a black and white topic, on balance, li-ion has an overall lower impact compared to VRLA over the complete lifecycle today, and they anticipate this to further improve in the future. For each life cycle phase, Schneider Electric describe best practices and attributes to look for in vendors and providers to ensure responsible, ethical, economical, and sustainable solutions are deployed.