Circularity Guidelines on end-of-life battery management

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) has introduced Circularity Guidelines to address the growing volume of end-of-life batteries resulting from the expansion of distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries. The guidelines aim to prevent the public health and environmental risks associated with substandard recycling practices, particularly for lead-acid batteries, by providing a framework for quality procurement, maintenance, take-back schemes, and certified recycling. The document calls on stakeholders—including developers, manufacturers, and investors—to endorse these standards and implement them within two years.

• The proliferation of distributed renewable energy (DRE) solutions to address energy demand in Africa and provide electricity to over 675 million people will lead to an increase in end-of-life battery volumes that require sound management.
• Unsound recycling of lead-acid batteries in low- and middle-income countries is currently a major public health concern, especially for children, and similar risks are expected for Li-ion batteries as they reach comparable scales.
• The guidelines outline four primary areas for action: quality and durability (procuring long-lasting batteries and minimizing hazardous substances), warranties and maintenance (using repairable designs and certified technicians), take-back (prioritizing reuse and implementing money-on-return strategies), and sound end-of-life management (partnering with certified facilities and ensuring regulatory compliance).
• Organizations that endorse the guidelines commit to aligning their internal practices and implementing the standards within a two-year timeframe.

APA

Alliance for Renewable Electrification (n.d.). Circularity Guidelines on end-of-life battery management. https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ProBaMet-Circularity-Guidelines.pdf

Chicago

Alliance for Renewable Electrification. Circularity Guidelines on end-of-life battery management. n.d. https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ProBaMet-Circularity-Guidelines.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Alliance for Renewable Electrification |title=Circularity Guidelines on end-of-life battery management |url=https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ProBaMet-Circularity-Guidelines.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allianceforrenewableelectrificationndcircularity, author = {{Alliance for Renewable Electrification}}, title = {{Circularity Guidelines on end-of-life battery management}}, institution = {Alliance for Renewable Electrification}, url = {https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ProBaMet-Circularity-Guidelines.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }