Cleaner Energy Storage: Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Aluminum-Ion Batteries With an Aqueous Electrolyte
N. Melzack, RGA Wills, Andrew Cruden
Abstract
In the context of growing demand on energy storage, exploring the holistic sustainability of technologies is key to future-proofing our development. In this article, a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of aqueous electrolyte aluminum-ion (Al-ion) batteries has been performed. Due to their reported characteristics of high power (circa 300 W kg −1 active material) and low energy density (circa 15 Wh kg −1 active material), these results were compared with those of supercapacitors (per kW). Initial findings suggest these aluminum-ion cells have fewer environmental impacts than commercial supercapacitors, hence offering a more environmentally sensitive energy storage technology solution. Al-ion batteries are in their early development, and this result shows a strong argument for continuing research into this technology alongside other emerging energy storage systems.