President Biden developed a sustainable solution for America's pollution-driven infrastructure. His Build Back Better Policy promotes clean energy generation and employment opportunities. The goal is to reach carbon neutrality in the future.

Achieving this goal requires the development of a renewable energy electric grid. When sourcing 100% of our energy from non-carbon emitting sources, we can significantly reduce the enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change. Establishing the transition towards a clean electric grid required our adoption of large scale lithium ion batteries.

Eliminating Fossil Fuel Driven Energy Production:

The renewable energy industry is meeting residential and commercial power demands by increasing its storage capacity. For example, one company converted an old power plant into a decarbonized energy facility. They placed one 300-megawatt lithium ion battery in an unused smokestack, holding excess solar and wind power. 

California uses the storage system to generate a decarbonized electric grid. They additionally source clean energy from a 256 megapack from Tesla, collecting 182.5 megawatts of power. The state's future energy goals are to power every San Francisco home for six hours daily, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Lithium's Limitations

Before widely accepting the electric grid, professionals evaluate the environmental impact of lithium and its sourcing. The batteries contain nickel, aluminum, cobalt and, of course, lithium. When extracted, the elements generate adverse environmental impacts.

Lithium mining creates water pollution and exploits natural resources. For example, chemical leaks release toxins into major water sources, producing acid rain. The industry's machinery also relies on carbon dioxide emitting fuel sourcing, decreasing localized air quality and increasing atmospheric pollution. In addition, mining degrades the soil surrounding a site, causing habitat loss and exploitation.

The various environmental impacts decrease the sustainability of lithium ion batteries for renewable energy storage. Another significant roadblock for the industry is the inability to recycle batteries in single-stream systems.

Battery Recycling Improvements

Environmental engineers and scientists are working on increasing the sustainability of single-stream recycling services. For example, Chicago's Southside Recycling system created the most eco-conscious facility to date in America. They optimize metal recycling, creating less surface pollution and atmospheric pollution.

Unfortunately, the state works against them, reducing their access to necessary permits. We must come together as a nation, finding sustainable solutions to waste management problems. Without adequate battery recycling services, the decarbonized electric grid will continue generating second-hand pollution.

Potential Solutions

President Biden's current clean energy policy allocates two trillion dollars of funding to climate change prevention activities. A portion of the investment supports renewable energy production and employment opportunity generation. We can utilize this funding to produce sustainable solutions to battery pollution.

One research team is working on decreasing the lithium ion batteries environmental impact. They discovered a restructured material method, processing and recycling devices without using organic solvents. Increasing the recyclability of batteries could significantly increase the sustainability of decarbonized electric grids.

The Future of Power

We can reach the goal of the Paris Agreement, reducing the global temperature by two degrees Celsius before pre-industrial levels, by eliminating fossil fuel uses. Community efforts and government-established regulations can help society covert away from dirty power sources to clean ones. In addition, various high-emission industries must adopt alternative fueling methods, significantly reducing global carbon emissions.

Professionals expect the renewable energy industry to grow by 50% from 2019 to 2024. They will make up 30% of the global energy source by the end of the expansion period. The clean energy revolution requires residential and commercial adaptation and cooperation.

Individual Efforts

Individuals can take action and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by altering their activities. Even though lithium ion batteries pose some adverse environmental impacts, renewable energy sourcing is more sustainable than dirty power. As technology advances, we will discover new ways of eliminating the energy industry's effects.

When you invest in a residential solar panel system with battery storage, you significantly shrink your carbon footprint and eliminate your utility costs. Adopting energy-efficient home appliances and a sustainable lifestyle can support ecological conservation in a solar-powered house. Many individuals feel resistant to solar purchases because of specific environmental impacts, and they will dissipate as sustainable infrastructure advances.