The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has released a new report urging its member countries to strengthen battery recycling systems as the world rapidly shifts towards clean energy and electric mobility. The report, *Battery Recycling Guidelines for ISA Member Countries: Advancing Circular Battery Value Chains*, highlights that the growing use of solar power, electric vehicles (EVs), and battery energy storage systems has made battery recycling an important priority for countries around the world.
According to the report, global installed solar power capacity has now crossed 1.86 terawatts, while demand for batteries used in EVs and energy storage systems has exceeded 1.5 terawatt-hours. As battery deployment continues to increase, the number of used batteries is also expected to rise significantly. These batteries contain valuable minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper, which can be recovered through recycling. The ISA said recovering these materials can reduce dependence on imported raw materials, improve energy security, and lower environmental impacts.
The report noted that in many ISA member countries, battery deployment is growing much faster than recycling infrastructure and regulations. Without proper collection, transportation, and recycling systems, discarded batteries can contaminate soil and water, create fire hazards, and result in the loss of critical minerals needed for future clean energy technologies.
To address these challenges, the ISA has recommended moving away from the traditional “take-make-dispose” model and adopting a circular battery economy. Under this approach, batteries should be collected, repaired, reused, and recycled to maximise their value throughout their lifecycle. The report also recommends a shared responsibility framework involving governments, battery manufacturers, producers, recyclers, transporters, and consumers to ensure batteries are handled safely from production to disposal.
The guidelines outline a complete battery recycling process that includes collection, transportation, sorting, testing, second-life applications, recycling, material recovery, refining, and safe disposal of waste. Batteries that still retain more than 70 percent of their original capacity can be reused in applications such as renewable energy storage, telecom towers, and microgrids before being sent for recycling.
The report stated that hydrometallurgical recycling currently provides the highest recovery rates for valuable metals. Pyrometallurgical recycling remains widely used in countries such as China, while direct recycling is emerging as a promising technology that preserves battery materials for reuse, although it is still under development.
The ISA also reviewed battery recycling policies across major economies. It said the European Union has introduced comprehensive regulations, including mandatory collection targets, recycling requirements, and digital battery passports. China has established detailed quality standards and integrated recycling systems, while the United States has focused on hazardous waste management and second-life battery standards. India has implemented Battery Waste Management Rules with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets, but the report noted that enforcement and recycling infrastructure still require further improvement. The ISA said stronger regulations, better collection networks, digital traceability, and regional cooperation will be essential for building sustainable battery recycling systems and supporting the global clean energy transition.
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