Renewable energy and the risks of lithium batteries: An analytical study of the challenges of hazardous waste management and their implications for environmental sustainability

Abstract

The research aims to analyze the complex paradox between the necessity of expanding the use of clean and renewable energy sources as a primary objective of sustainable development, and the inherent risks associated with using lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) as high-reliability and high-efficiency energy storage devices, given the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. The research problem was summarized by assessing the capacity and flexibility of international measures and policies aimed at achieving sustainable development in confronting the inherent risks and challenges arising from the use of these batteries. The most prominent findings indicated a significant and growing negative impact on the (social, environmental, and economic) advantages achieved by expanding clean and renewable energy production. Consequently, there are negative repercussions on the (economic, social, and environmental) dimensions of the sustainable development process. The most important recommendations strongly emphasized the necessity of enacting legislation to regulate the management of this type of hazardous waste. Furthermore, they stressed the need for adequate support from stakeholders, particularly producers, to ensure that the current poor regulation and management of these practices do not cast their heavy shadow onto governments in the future, compelling them to deal with the resulting crises.