China is the world’s largest
producer of solar panels, batteries, and EVs. It also has the most of these
components that are spent from use. Thus, China is the biggest challenge and
the biggest opportunity for recycling these components. That is beginning to
happen on a larger scale as the public participates more in the circular
economy. Andy Corbley, in an article for Good News Network, an unusual media
source that seeks to spread positive news stories, or “good news,” notes:
“The China Resources Recycling Group, created by the
State Council last year, is seeking to bring together businesses with the
expertise and infrastructure to recycle offline e-waste in large quantities for
its lithium, cobalt, copper, gold, aluminum, and nickel.”
The trade in these recycled
materials reached $38.5 billion last year. After a decade of growth in EV
production, China is now expecting 4 million tons of retired batteries that can
be recycled. E-waste and new-energy waste recycling companies in China are
seeing decent revenues from the increase in batteries and other components.
Chinese businesses are signing up for inclusion in the battery recycling
process, with 156 so far. The goal is to “standardize the battery-recycling
market’s practices for avoiding workplace accidents and environmental
contamination.”
China is not only the world’s
biggest producer of solar panels but also the world’s biggest consumer of them.
They were the first to reach 100 GW of installed solar PV capacity in 2017. As
of 2024 one one-third of all solar panels deployed were deployed in China. Many
of the first generation of solar panels are approaching the end of their
lifetimes so recycling will only grow in importance for them as time goes on.
The article mentions that since their components are less valuable than battery
components, their recycling systems are less developed.
“The recycling chains for solar power are less developed
than for batteries, in part because the environmental impact of batteries is
higher than retired solar panels. But if the growth in producing panels,
producing batteries, and recycling batteries is any indication, one would
expect this deficiency to disappear rapidly as the country begins to retire its
first generation of solar panels.”
In July 2021, China unveiled
a plan to promote the circular economy for the next five years.
“The plan, released by the National Development and
Reform Commission, specifies that China's energy and water consumption per unit
of gross domestic product will be lowered by about 13.5 percent and 16 percent,
respectively, by 2025 from the 2020 levels.”
“Efficiency of resource utilization will be greatly
improved by 2025, with circular economy playing a bigger role in ensuring
resource security, reads the document.’
Battery recycling is a part of that plan. Before that, in
February 2021, the State Council called for the development of a green,
low-carbon circular economy. They said that by 2025, this green circular
economy would be taking shape, and this does seem to be the case.
“In terms of building a green manufacturing system, the
circular set targets in many sectors, including industry, agriculture,
services, environmental protection, industrial parks, and cluster and supply
chains.’
“For example, green reforms should be obtained in
industries, including steel, petrochemical, chemical, nonferrous metal,
building materials, textile, papermaking, leather, and others, the circular
said. And all-out efforts should be made to develop the remanufacturing
industry and clean production.”
I found that Statista had some great graphed data about Chinese battery recycling, as can be seen below.
Volume of retired electric vehicle batteries in China in 2020, with estimates for 2025 and 2030 (in metric kilo tons)
Size of the electric vehicle battery recycling market in
China from 2019 to 2023, with an estimate for 2024 (in billion yuan)
Share of recycling channels of electric mobility batteries
in China in 2024
Leading new energy vehicle manufacturers in China in April 2024, based on number of EV battery recycling outlets
References:
China’s
Dying EV Batteries and Solar Cells Are Powering a Circular Economy Worth $38
Billion per Year. Andy Corbley. Good News Network. May 9, 2025. China’s
Dying EV Batteries and Solar Cells Are Powering a Circular Economy Worth $38
Billion per Year
China
plans to promote circular economy. The State Council. The People’s Republic of
China. Updated: July 7, 2021. China
plans to promote circular economy
State
Council calls for green, low-carbon and circular development. The State
Council. The People’s Republic of China. Updated: February 22, 2021. State
Council calls for green, low-carbon and circular development
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