A second life for mobile phone batteries in light emitting diode solar home systems

作者：Diouf Boucar^*

来源：Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 2016, 8(2): 024106.

DOI：10.1063/1.4944967

E-waste is certainly increasing to become a global issue. Fast evolution of mobile electronic devices leads to their premature replacement for always newer, faster, and nicer design and therefore may be a source of environmental pollution and contributes to global warming. Fortunately, due to the properties of the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery that powers them, there is in average 3 years of life left for the battery when the device is recycled or no longer in use after 2 years. This wastage can be valued by giving to the batteries a second life as energy storage for lighting. In fact, it can be a real opportunity for access to electricity in remote rural areas of developing countries for low cost and quality lighting. We present that used mobile phone batteries associated with a solar panel and a light emitting diode lamp can be a good replacement for candles or kerosene lamps that generate pollution, are hazardous, and only give poor lighting. Such a replacement can be done for much lower cost than current expenses, better quality of light, and contributes to poverty alleviation and job creation. This reduces wastage in developed countries and overcomes the challenges of cost and durability in small off-grid photovoltaic systems in non-electrified rural areas of developing countries. The creation of social incentive can have a real effect on the reduction of e-waste.

• 出版日期2016-3