Life cycle climate change impacts of producing battery metals from land ores versus deep-sea polymetallic nodules
Daina Paulikas, Steven K. Katona, Erika Ilves, Saleem H. Ali
Abstract
• Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of metals from land ores versus deep-sea nodules. • Using nodules can reduce CO2 emissions by 80% (Ni), 76% (Cu), 29% (Co), and 22% (Mn). • Nodules put 94% less sequestered carbon at risk and disrupt sequestration by 88% less. • Making 1 billion EV batteries from nodules could reduce atmospheric CO2 by 11.5 Gt.
Topics & Concepts
Environmental scienceBattery (electricity)Carbon sequestrationDeep seaClimate changeCarbon fibersMetallurgyHeavy metalsLife-cycle assessmentCarbon cycleEnvironmental chemistryMaterials scienceGeologyOceanographyCarbon dioxideChemistryProduction (economics)Organic chemistryBiologyPower (physics)EcologyEconomicsComposite materialQuantum mechanicsMacroeconomicsPhysicsEcosystemComposite numberExtraction and Separation ProcessesGeochemistry and Elemental AnalysisRecycling and Waste Management Techniques