Science & Technology, UK (Commonwealth Union) – Scientists at The University of Manchester, in their investigation of waste management practices for off-grid solar technologies in Malawi, have uncovered alarming levels of lead pollution, posing life-threatening risks.
The scientists pointed out that informal recycling activities, commonly practiced with lead-acid batteries utilized in solar energy systems, were found to emit 3.5-4.7 kg of lead pollution per typical battery. This quantity surpasses more than 100 times the lethal oral dose of lead for an adult.
Off-grid solar technologies play a vital role in providing power to regions without conventional grid connections, particularly in expanding electricity access across sub-Saharan Africa. By 2030, it is anticipated that the private market for off-grid solar electrification technologies, supported by global energy companies primarily from the Global North like the UK, will grant access to electricity for hundreds of millions of people. However, the reliance on lead-acid batteries in household-scale off-grid solar energy systems in sub-Saharan Africa, owing to their affordability and established technology, poses significant challenges.
The absence of formal waste management infrastructure brings in substantial risks to both human health and the environment, according to the scientists. They emphasize the urgent need for government intervention.
This research, led by Dr. Christopher Kinally as part of his PhD at The University of Manchester, was funded by EPSRC and appeared recently in the journal Applied Energy.
Dr Kinally says “The private market for off-grid solar products is a very effective way to increase access to electricity, which is crucial for sustainable development. However, the resulting toxic waste flow is growing rapidly across regions that do not have the infrastructure to safely manage electronic waste.
“Without developing infrastructure, legislation and education around these technologies, there are severe public health risks. Significant social, economic and legislative interventions are required for these solar products to be considered as a safe, low-carbon technology in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Informal waste management practices, particularly concerning automotive batteries and electronic waste, are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, with significant environmental and health repercussions that have often been disregarded. Recent endeavors to promote sustainable development and expand electricity access exacerbate these hazardous waste disposal channels, according to the researchers of the study.
Dr. Kinally observed that in suburban areas of Malawi, lead-acid batteries from solar energy systems undergo open refurbishment on bustling market streets by self-taught technicians who are ignorant of the hazardous nature of the materials they engage in.
He discovered that batteries are forcefully opened using machetes, lead is melted using charcoal cooking stoves, and makeshift lead battery cells are manually crafted. Consequently, approximately half of the lead content from each battery seeps into the environment, releasing over 100 lethal oral lead doses per battery into densely populated communities.
This marks the inaugural data documenting lead pollution resulting from the informal recycling of lead-acid batteries using the solar energy systems.
Dr. Alejandro Gallego Schmid, principal supervisor of the PhD and Senior Lecturer in Circular Economy and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment at The University of Manchester, emphasized, that the issue does not lie in the utilization of renewable sources like solar energy, but rather in the absence of appropriate end-of-life battery treatment. Further research is urgently needed to elucidate the health ramifications stemming from the identified flows of toxic pollution originating from solar batteries.
Lead, a potent neurotoxin, poses a significant threat to child development even at low exposure levels. UNICEF estimates that approximately 800 million children in low- and middle-income nations are affected by lead poisoning.
This pervasive lead pollution predominantly stems from inadequately managed automotive battery waste, with profound anticipated health and economic consequences across the Global South. Unfortunately, this issue often remains overlooked.
Previous research by the scientists had underscored the challenges within the private off-grid solar market. They indicated that there is a glaring lack of supplier accountability, resulting in the prevalence of substandard, short-lived, and counterfeit off-grid solar products in places like Malawi. These products disproportionately exploit energy-poor populations, exacerbating the problem.
Moreover, insufficient education on the proper construction and utilization of solar energy systems, which are particularly prone to damage from misuse, further shortens the lifespan of batteries in off-grid setups. In Malawi, batteries frequently fail within a year, well below the expected 3–5-year lifespan, exacerbating the flow of toxic waste.
Additionally, the environmental consequences, including increased carbon emissions, resulting from the manufacturing and replacement of short-lived lead-acid batteries, undermine the sustainability and environmental advantages of solar energy systems.
