Lithium-ion waste from a solar lantern scheme run by oil & gas major Total in Kenya will be recycled into new batteries for solar home systems by start-up Aceleron.

The initial £51,000 (US$65,910) project between the two sees Aceleron turn TATES’ lithium waste into second life batteries at US$45 per kWh. Over a predicted lifespan of seven more years in the field those particular batteries could have, this works out at US$6.5 a year in Kenya, where, Aceleron claims, lead acid can already cost almost twice that (US$12 a year per kWh) and only last for three years.

Read more: Energy Storage