The technology of electrochemical energy storage (EES) is supposed to play a key role in the near future for mobility systems characterized by electric vehicles as well as for stationary applications providing energy supply as they represent the interface between transport and energy networks. The performance of EES systems is closely linked to the applied battery materials which contain metals often considered critical. For determining criticality of metals different approaches have been used which however evaluate such materials for the economy as a whole. What has been missing up till now is the examination of critical raw materials for individual technologies.Therefore it is intended to develop a technology specific criticality indicator for battery materials.The focus of this paper is developing a method to indicate the significance of raw materials for electrochemical active materials used by lithium-ion batteries (LIB) which are currently very promising EES for mobile and stationary applications. In order to implement this at first the following three aspects were analyzed and put in relation to each other: importance of electrode materials, amount of metal in the active material and exploitable metal reserves. The combination of these factors resulted in a relevance index (RI) which allows determining the relevance of raw materials in different types of LIBs. Based on this index the development of a technology specific criticality indicator has to integrate further aspects being the focus of future work.

Low temperature degradation (LTD) of iron oxides was investigated with the aim of understanding how natural iron ores degrade under different conditions. Minimisation of this degradation would increase the acceptance level of natural iron ores as feed materials without prior beneficiation. In addition to temperature and reduction gas composition, sample positioning in the reduction furnace and sample’s original weight were also found to influence LTD. Samples placed in the top reaction zone of the furnace, which have the first contact with the reducing gas, were found to degrade 1.5 times more than those in the middle and bottom reaction zones. In addition, they presented a wide range of size in the disintegrated particles than those in the middle and bottom reaction zones. Furthermore, the samples with an original weight equal to or greater than 5 g, had a disintegration extent of less than 10%. Therefore, if the reduction gas comes into contact with a certain material first, before contacting the iron oxide, it may serve to reduce on LTD during reduction. Furthermore, in laboratory conditions, the occurrence of low temperature breakdown of the natural iron oxides can be minimised by using samples with an original weight equal to or greater than 5 g.

In the context of a rapidly growing energy demand and concerns about global climate change, renewable energies and in particular photovoltaic (PV) power are considered long-term solutions towards secured energy supply and for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. However, is solar PV a truly sustainable solution? Climate change will certainly not be the only environmental issue we will have to deal with. Regarding the issue of mineral resources, current research efforts aim at reducing raw material consumption in the manufacturing of PV panels. But, how do we assess the environmental efficiency of a panel, especially concerning the raw material consumption? Moreover, the PV industry consumes raw materials which are principally produced in non-EU countries such as Cadmium (Cd), Gallium (Ga) and Indium (In). How do we consider the issue of critical substance and accessibility? Required materials for PV modules may also be used in other applications (for example Gallium and Indium in electrical appliance production). Should competitiveness between applications be taken into account in a sustainability assessment? Are we going to valorize the PV module ability to use substitute substances? In addition to responsible resource management indicators, many other aspects have to be taken into account in order to achieve a complete sustainability assessment, especially recyclability, viability of PV industry, equilibrium along the value chain or social indicators such as social acceptability... Designing sustainability metrics is a new and complex research field. The whole value chain has to be evaluated and all dimensions (environmental, economic, and social) need to be explored. The paper will discuss the issues in defining sustainability metrics and propose some methodologies and a system of indicators to lassess the sustainability of a PV module.