Recyclable, circular, energy storage
“It’s incredibly exciting to feel like we’re really part of the solution and part of helping this transition take place. We all want to see the world as a more sustainable place, and we want to see everything run from sustainable sources of energy. To feel like we’re part of that impact, right here in the Hunter, and right here in Newcastle, is thrilling.” – MGA Thermal CTO, Dr. Alex Post on The Science Show ABC
MGA Thermal believes we are all accountable to future generations; that each decision and every product has an environmental impact. Our energy storage is engineered to be ethical, and a vital step toward a sustainable future.
Currently, coal-burning power plants have been claimed to cost Australians $2.4 billion in health costs each year[i] due to the impact of coal pollution. The figure accounts for premature deaths, low birth weights and additional days of asthma symptoms[ii]; future generations will also face enhanced climate change and environmental damage in post-mining landscapes.
End-of-life legacy
The MGA technology allows for clean energy storage and the material itself will not negatively affect the intergenerational quality of life. Our MGA blocks are safe, and non-toxic, and remain stable throughout their life cycle. Therefore, there are no health concerns around using MGA blocks for the community.
Waste Disposal
MGA blocks are a combination of phase change and matrix materials. The key to the chocolate chip cupcake analogy is to demonstrate that the phase change particles remain separated in a matrix. The matrix material remains solid and hence the MGA material can thermally behave as a solid, even when the particles are molten (storing thermal energy). The two key materials have different properties which means they can easily be separated, and by design are immiscible meaning they will never mix, like oil and water.
At end of life for an MGA brick, the raw materials used in manufacture of the block are common and safe, do not degrade and still exist as components. These blocks can undergo a non-labour-intensive recycling process to recover the key materials. The process can be automated and occur domestically to be reused to create more MGA bricks; or recycled for an entirely different purpose and industry. This is known as a closed-cycle loop; the matrix and phase change inputs are not lost, no emissions occur while blocks are in operation, and the components are recovered/reused at the end of useful life.
Even if an MGA block made its way into landfill, it is a stable and non-toxic material and will behave the same as any other stone or rock in the ground. Comparing recyclability of MGA blocks to lithium-ion batteries; although batteries are 95% recyclable, they contain scarce materials that are not easy to separate into components. Moreover, less than 5% of Australia’s annual 3,300 tonnes Lithium-ion battery waste is recycled each year[iii]. In Australia, the majority of our battery waste is shipped overseas, but the remainder is often destined for landfill which leads to environmental contamination and potential fires.
MGA Thermal supports the circular economy and endeavours to use recycled materials where we can. We have a mission to leave the environment better than we found it and believe MGA Thermal can be part of the solution for a sustainable future.
Listen to the full interview on the ABC Science show here.
This blog was originally published on 22 September 2020 and was written by Arden Jarrett.
[ii] https://reneweconomy.com.au/coal-generation-kills-800-a-year-in-australia-says-new-report-27036/
[iii] https://www.csiro.au/en/research/technology-space/energy/Energy-in-the-circular-economy/Battery-recycling
