让废旧动力电池变身“城市矿产”

Core Insights - The article discusses the growing importance of recycling used power batteries in China, highlighting the need for effective recovery and utilization systems to prevent environmental pollution and to harness valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel from retired batteries [6][8][9]. Industry Overview - China's new energy vehicle ownership has surpassed 40 million, with the first batch of power batteries entering a phase of large-scale retirement [6]. - The country has issued 22 national standards for power battery recycling, aiming to transform retired batteries into valuable resources rather than environmental burdens [6][12]. Recycling Methods - There are two main recycling methods for retired power batteries: 1. Recycling for raw materials: This involves disassembling, crushing, sorting, and smelting to extract metals [7]. 2. Second-life utilization: This includes testing, sorting, and reconfiguring batteries for use in other applications, such as emergency power supplies and energy storage devices [7]. Market Potential - The current recycling volume of power batteries has exceeded 300,000 tons, corresponding to a market size of over 48 billion yuan, with projections indicating the market could surpass 100 billion yuan by 2030 [9]. - The demand for lithium, cobalt, and nickel is expected to rise, with China projected to import approximately 5.25 million tons of lithium concentrate in 2024, a year-on-year increase of about 31% [8]. Challenges in Recycling - The recycling market faces significant challenges, including a lack of standardization and the presence of unregulated small workshops that profit from the recycling of batteries [10][11]. - Many legitimate recycling companies struggle with underutilized capacity and competition from informal channels that offer higher prices for retired batteries [11]. Regulatory Framework - The Chinese government has established a comprehensive regulatory framework, including 22 national standards that cover various aspects of battery recycling, from collection and transportation to physical processing and chemical regeneration [12][13]. - New standards aim to ensure safety, environmental protection, and efficiency in the recycling process, with specific guidelines for the handling and processing of retired batteries [12][13]. International Standards - China has made initial progress in international standardization for power battery recycling, with nearly 40 Chinese experts participating in international standard-setting organizations [14].