IESA announces India Reuse and Recycle Council (IRRC) to advance battery recycling and second-life applications

In response to the urgent need for sustainable battery solutions, the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) has unveiled the India Reuse and Recycling Council (IRRC), aimed at fostering a robust ecosystem for battery recycling and second-life applications in India.

The primary goal of IRRC is to identify opportunities and challenges and chart a roadmap for establishing a sustainable framework for second-life applications and battery recycling. Debi Prasad Dash, Executive Director of IESA and Secretary of IRRC, emphasised that the council will collaborate closely with policymakers, academia, research institutions, and companies operating across the battery value chain to achieve this objective.

IRRC will undertake various activities, including market assessments, techno-commercial analyses, policy and regulatory evaluations, and the promotion of global partnerships and technology transfers. Key focus areas include facilitating efficient collection mechanisms, domestic technology development, policy frameworks to encourage sustainable practices, circularity principles, research and innovation, and skill development programs.

The council will engage with leading industry players, including Exigo Recycling, LICO Materials, Rubamin, BatX Energies, Nile Li-Cycle, Lohum, Excel Industries, ACE Green Recycling, and Nunam, among others. It will also collaborate with government bodies such as NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

“The Indian Li-ion battery recycling industry is witnessing a very high growth trajectory. With huge investments, innovation in cost-effective technologies, increase in demand, and recently introduced Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, we may become the global hub for the supply of battery-grade materials in the future,” said ALN Rao, CEO of Exigo Recycling.

“In our pursuit of sustainability, LICO Materials is not only committed to battery recycling and refurbishment but also places a strong emphasis on critical material recovery. By strategically integrating this process, we aim to support battery manufacturers with a stable and responsible supply of second-life raw materials, fortifying the foundation for a circular economy in the electric vehicle industry," said Gaurav Dolwani, Founder and CEO of LICO.

With the establishment of IRRC, IESA aims to drive the battery recycling and second-life applications ecosystem forward, contributing to India's transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy.