[RE-wrenches] Recycling of LI vs Pb

[Sindelar Solar]

Agreed that this is important and overlooked. Blue Planet is a case in 
point. While I'm well satisfied with their product and support, the 
individual battery packs each come with an absurd amount of styrofoam 
packaging from Murata, the manufacturer. I was told that Blue Planet was 
working to find a less wasteful alternative, and that I could pay 
(substantially) extra to reduce the volume of packaging.

To date I haven't heard from them about end-of-life recycling; given 
their promised long service life, I admit that I have succumbed to the 
'by then there will be structures in place to address the need' avoidance.

I would appreciate having a Blue Planet manufacturer's representative on 
this list.

Allan

-- 

*Allan Sindelar*
allan at sindelarsolar.com <mailto:allan at sindelarsolar.com>
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
*505 780-2738 cell*

On 9/27/2019 8:48 AM, Kirpal wrote:
> Hi Mark.  Great question!  This is an important consideration.  Tesla 
> has a recycling facility at their Nevada plant for their batteries.  
> Curious how other LFP manufacturers recommend end of life handling.
> Speaking of waste,  As you all are installing systems of all 
> varieties, what are you finding with regard to non sustainable 
> packaging in all your "clean" energy materials.  I am troubled that 
> after many of our installs we have a pile of plastic and styrofoam as 
> big as the the balance of system installation.  Sometimes bigger.  It 
> drives me crazy to have this blight on our installation.  I am often 
> embarrassed when the customer points out this dichotomy of the 
> installation.  Which manufacturers are you happiest with in regards to 
> environmentally friendly packaging materials for inverters, other 
> balance of system, and batteries  (probably LFePho4)? Collectively we 
> should have the ability to pressure them to use more sustainable 
> packaging.
> I have seen some improvements and some half way implemented changes, 
> but a lot more can be done to improve this aspect of our industry.  
> All of us can help....Together we have a big voice.
>
> Sunny Regards,
> Kirpal Khalsa
> Oregon LRT#25
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> Oregon Solarworks LLC
> www.oregonsolarworks.com <http://www.oregonsolarworks.com>
> 541-299-0402
>
>
> On Fri, Sep 27, 2019 at 7:34 AM Mark Frye <markf at berkeleysolar.com 
> <mailto:markf at berkeleysolar.com>> wrote:
>
>     Folks,
>
>     Has anyone done a good review of the current state of affairs re:
>     recycling Li batteries?
>
>     I am a bit in the past with a starry-eyed view of Pb with HUP, in
>     particular, believing that Pb batteries have almost a closed cycle
>     product life, ie, we already have infrastructure to recycle something
>     like 95% of the material in Pb batteries.
>
>     Taking a step back, has our industry become just as jaded by our
>     shiny
>     new technology as every other sector of our economy, focusing on
>     impressive new short term outcomes that are not really embedded
>     within
>     the frame work of a sustainable future?
>
>     This is why I ask about the recyclablility / sustainability of Li
>     batteries? Some what agnostic here but wondering what the thinking
>     around this is?
>
>     Thanks,
>     Mark Frye
>
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