Sustainable Problem – Energy & Waste – Nearly 22,000 tonnes of household batteries end up in landfill sites every year.
Summary
Article– The Guardian; Biodegradable batteries and induction charging cars: five tech trends to watch
Link – Click here
- Researchers in Sweden and US developed a battery made of wood-based foam substance called aerogel, which allows this battery to be lightweight, elastic, high-capacity and ability to dissolve in water.
- The targeted market include wearable computing and in-car electronics, which would have a high disposal rate.
- Due to its high costs, this technology is at least 5-10 years away from the commercial market.
Organizational Stakeholders – Portable energy storage (battery) manufacturers (such as Energizer), disposable good manufacturers and developers, outdoor enthusiasts/tourists, and ecotourism companies.
Steps of deployment
- Determine stakeholders who are likely to invest in the research and application of this technology, such as Energizer.
- Among this list, determine best candidates for a public-private partnership that will fund and accelerate the technology
- Establish an agreement between the investor and researchers that addresses the responsibilities, deployment plan, and application.
makeasmartcity 
This is a great start on the future of batteries, which are going to be pivotal in the shift to renewables and distributed generation. Not only are many batteries not recycled, conventional batteries contain many harmful compounds that leach into the ecosystem when improperly disposed. Additionally, batteries require the mining of certain materials (like lithium) which are very environmentally harmful and require destruction of ecosystems.
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The article notes that the process for creating the material begins with breaking down tree fibers, making them roughly one million times thinner, then the nanocellulose is dissolved, frozen and freeze-dried so that the moisture evaporates without passing through a liquid state. It would be interesting to know amount of tree fiber needed to produce specific levels of battery power.
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Only 10% of batteries are recycled making this incredibly important.
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