Development of batteries waste management system in Thailand toward circular economy

Abstract

Due to increasing demand, Thailand is moving towards using lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, causing future battery waste management problems. The study aims to conduct a strategic environmental impact assessment on the disposal of used electric vehicle batteries, and determine appropriate methods for managing current and future battery waste in Thailand. Additionally, the study will provide recommendations for policy-making and a roadmap for a sustainable circular economy in the battery industry. Lastly, an integrated framework for Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be developed for battery waste management. The study was conducted in three stages, namely Material Flow Analysis (MFA), Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEA), and Policy Recommendation. The MFA study revealed that Thailand's annual lead production stands at 160,747 tons, largely due to the widespread use of lead-acid batteries in internal combustion vehicles. The country is grappling with a surge in illegally managed waste, which is attributed to the insufficient number of recycling plants. To tackle this problem and curb future waste accumulation, Thailand should mull over enacting a law to facilitate the proper disposal of battery remnants or augment the number of battery recycling factories. In the management of Ni-MH batteries for HEV/PHEV vehicles, we found that Thailand uses virgin and recycled cells to produce Ni-MH batteries for HEV/PHEV vehicles, using tons of nickel per year. With more hybrid cars, they may need to build more factories and incinerators for battery management. No Ni-MH batteries are left as waste. In the management of lithium ion batteries for EV it has been discovered that the number of electric cars in Thailand by 2022 and 2030 will not be significant without a cost-effective recycling plant for lithium-ion batteries used in EV. If the construction takes place after 2038, it will be profitable. The integration of MFA and SEA simplifies the process of validating the outcome and provides a comprehensive overview for better visualization. According to the study, it is suggested that Thailand should establish streamlined laws and EPR technology, set up a battery recycling facility, explore new technologies for recycling different kinds of batteries, concentrate on increasing the production of clean energy, and adopt the electric vehicle parts manufacturing industry