[Aziell]

I used to think big batteries were just for short-term backup. Didn't expect California to reach the point where they can actually support part of the grid. Before, when the wind stopped or the sun went down, you'd need gas to kick in. Now, in many cases, batteries are enough. That said, I do wonder what happens when all these batteries get old. Are we just pushing the next problem down the road?

[ragebol]

Batteries can be recycled, just like solar panels can.

Maybe not as easy as metals or glass, but can be recycled nonetheless

[Aziell]

I didn’t know batteries could actually be recycled. I always thought it wasn’t very common. But now I’m curious how high the actual recycling rate is. Are there any good examples of it working well?

[burkaman]

It's very difficult to tell what the global recycling rate is, here's a good article about that: https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/battery-recycling-.... It might be as high as 59%. There are a lot of companies working on ramping up this industry in the US, some examples are https://ascendelements.com/, https://www.redwoodmaterials.com/, https://ecobat.com/our-business/ecobat-solutions/lithium-ser.... There's no real technological barrier, it's just about making the economics work.