TL;DR
India is focusing on EV battery recycling to create green jobs, secure mineral supply, and support its clean energy transition, with the industry potentially worth $9 billion.
India is intensifying its efforts in electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling, recognizing its critical role in the nation's transition to clean energy and ensuring mineral security. A burgeoning system for recovering materials from used EV batteries, smartphones, and other electronics has emerged over the last decade. This initiative is vital for reducing India's reliance on imported, hard-to-obtain metals essential for battery production.
A recent study by the renewable energy think tank RMI highlights the significant potential of a formalized battery recycling and reuse industry, projecting it to be worth $9 billion. This sector could generate over 100,000 green jobs and fulfill nearly 40% of the country's demand for key minerals, particularly as EV battery demand is set to skyrocket. Experts emphasize that these materials can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality.
Despite the implementation of battery waste management rules in 2022 by the Indian government, which mandate environmentally safe disposal and management, challenges remain in effective execution due to the largely informal nature of scrap recycling. However, with India's rapid growth in clean energy and EV adoption, improving battery recycling infrastructure and policy implementation is crucial for a sustainable future.
