Biowaste could power next-generation batteries for cheaper EVs and solar systems

A new project in Australia is working out how to turn organic waste — including biosolids from wastewater treatment and household garden waste — into a key component for the next generation of batteries. This project is a collaboration between RMIT University, Deakin University, and Barwon Water. It will involve turning organic waste into biochar.

While biochar — a charcoal-like substance made from heating organic matter in oxygen-deprived conditions — is already known for its use in soil improvement, this new project will also explore a different application. The project will research how biochar could be used in sodium-ion batteries to improve cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

The project will focus on studying the potential of biochar as the anode material inside sodium-ion batteries. If the team achieves their goal, sodium-ion batteries, which are already cheaper than lithium-ion batteries, could become even cheaper.

Biochar is looking promising as a next generation battery material, and through this project we’ll continue to explore what biochar composition will enhance battery performance. — Associate Professor Nolene Byrne of Deakin University.

The project is part of a broader effort by Barwon Water to build a circular economy in the Geelong region. The initiative aims to turn approximately 60,000 tonnes of biosolids and other organic waste into sustainable products annually. The work is funded by a $50 million grant from the Australian Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program.

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