Articles
"As An Industry, We Must Become More Transparent about Our Environmental Impact"
Heidi Hammarsten
Sustainable Battery Design
This module focuses on the fundamentals of battery materials and their sustainability assessment from the perspective of circularity. The aim is to demonstrate the principles for more sustainable battery production, especially for the EU market.
This module aims to help organizations to
- reduce the overall life-cycle climate and environmental footprint of their products
- achieve longer product lifetimes through more durable and repairable designs
- increase the circular material use rate
- reduce waste, and
- achieve higher recycling rates.
Consequently, consumers, the environment, and the climate will benefit from products that are more durable, reusable, repairable, recyclable, and energy-efficient.
Participants may choose to complete this module as a standalone or join the comprehensive Certificate in Advanced LCA Simulation program.
The program supports the EU’s sustainable products initiative to make products placed on the EU market more sustainable. It provides product designers with knowledge and tools to understand how they can adjust existing material cycles and design new processes to optimize the environmental performance of batteries while maintaining their functional quality. Applications include electronic equipment such as computers, phones, and tablets, the automotive and aeronautic sectors, and sustainable energy-related technologies.
The program is designed and developed by Aalto University, Metso, TU Bergakademi Freiberg, University of Bordeaux, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. VTT and Aalto University Executive Education.
Learning Outcomes
The module provides the participants with the latest knowledge on state-of-the-art lithium battery materials and their functioning, future development, and research trends. In addition, participants will learn about the environmental footprinting of advanced materials used in batteries and related sustainability challenges and resource implications like the criticality and circularity of raw materials use.
After completion of this study module, the participant will
- Have up-to-date-knowledge of state-of-the-art lithium battery materials, their functioning, and future development with regard to battery materials
- Understand the working principles and applications of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), key materials of LIBs and their functions, battery assembly processes and performance analysis
- Be aware of the advantages and limitations of different battery systems and related research trends
- Be able to calculate the environmental footprint of advanced materials used in batteries
For
This study module is designed for chemical, process, and metallurgical engineers and materials scientists interested in learning about lithium-ion batteries, their materials, new developments, and their sustainability assessment and attributes.
Before joining the module, participants should have basic knowledge on metallurgy, materials science, and life cycle assessment.
This module is particularly suitable for
- Sustainability consultants and managers
- Materials scientists or engineers
- Chemical, process, or metallurgical engineers working in sustainability consultancy
- Professionals working in raw materials extraction and refinery companies, or in companies using LIB and advanced materials
- Professionals working in LIB battery-producing companies
Program Structure
This study module consists of four interactive live online sessions focusing on different topics. Between sessions, participants will study additional materials that help them apply the learning.