Yes, specific locations are more likely to increase emissions due to battery production, particularly for electric vehicles. Key regions include:
- China and India: These countries are highlighted as potential pollution hotspots due to the refining of nickel and cobalt, essential minerals for electric vehicle batteries. Fully domesticating their supply chains could result in a significant increase in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions—up to a 20% increase over current levels.
- Indonesia and Australia: These countries are also noted for high emissions associated with lithium-ion battery production. Indonesia is a major producer of nickel, while Australia is a significant source of lithium.
- Manufacturing Hubs: Generally, areas with intensive battery manufacturing tend to have higher emissions. The Battery Emissions Analyser (BEA) by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence identifies emission hotspots throughout various stages of cell production, which can aid in making more sustainable supply chain decisions.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/are-there-specific-locations-where-batteries-are-more-likely-to-increase-emissions/
