Work

Life cycle engineering for battery production within absolute environmental sustainability targets: a climate change case study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Battery production is growing rapidly, yet whether its environmental impacts remain within planetary boundaries requires investigation. We develop a four-step life cycle engineering framework integrating 1) prospective and probabilistic target derivation, 2) parametric and prospective life cycle assessment, 3) Sobol index-based selection of mitigation measures, and 4) marginal abatement cost curves for costeffectiveness evaluation. The framework builds on a structured review of 28 studies and meta-analysis of 36 reviews, addressing seven identified research demands. Applied to NMC811 battery production under three SSP-RCP scenarios and two sharing principles (2024-2050), current impacts (138 kg CO₂eq/kWh) exceed justice-based and grandfathering targets by factors of 5.5 and 1.9, respectively. Combined foreground and background improvements reduce impacts by 75% to 34 kg CO₂-eq/kWh by 2050. Sixteen mitigation measures are derived to reach net-zero, of which 70 kg CO₂-eq/kWh can be abated at negative marginal costs, yielding net savings of €70/kWh (-51%).

Source: Resources Conservation and Recycling

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2026.109218

Authors: Abdur-Rahman Ali, Fabian Möller, Christoph Herrmann

Institution: Technische Universität Braunschweig

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,270