Recycling used alkaline batteries

Our Organization

C&N Innovations

What is the name of your solution?

Recycling used alkaline batteries

Provide a one-line summary of your solution.

How single use alkaline batteries destined for reprocessing or landfill can be successfully recharged and resycled

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

In what country is your solution team headquartered?

• United Kingdom

What type of organization is your solution team?

Not registered as any organization

What specific problem are you solving?

Globally around 8 billion single use alkaline batteries are produced each year with around only 50% being recycled to recover the materials, the remainder sent to landfill or simply discarded directly into the environment.

Our solution is a method that takes these used alkaline batteries and process them in a specific way, part of which is to actually recharge each. A process technique that has been found to be successful multiple times.

What this means is that for of the 700 million people globally without access to a cost effect method off grid energy  the purchase of  a single alkaline battery will then offers them the opportunity to reuse it multiple times. The outcome being not only flower cost energy but also release of the portion of the household expenditure previously set aside for energy from batteries

What makes this solution so special is that the overall process and method has specifically be designed from artisan to commercial scale at costs relevant to local currencies.

Introducing this new  method will not only positively improve energy availability across the globe but as the programmes roll out will start to reduce the need for single use alkaline batteries as a whole both as a product, its material content, CO2 , and every aspect of the supply infrastructure

This new method so appealing is that the major component the battery itself has already been produced to approved standards yet by follow using  low cost commercially available equipment these can be recovered and reused multiple times. Equally at their end of life state they will still retain the equivalent waste material value.

Adopting this new method will alter the perceived value of what was formally seen as environmental  waste product with increased value as by recharging it gains value throughout its entire lifecycle which even at the end its residual material value will still comprise of the material waste value which is currently around $1150 per tonne

By locally repurposing these batteries many additional benefits will arise from employment both in its collection cycle, processing, resale , beyond these areas such as education, security and social activities directly related to improved access to say lighting cannot be ignored

Looking forward this solution can also be considered for energy storage meaning that items such as refridgerators, freezers, incubators and low voltage household lighting become possible.

What is your solution?

Using an NDA - C&N Innovations are willing to supply the specific details of all aspects of this new technology breakthrough.

Technically this breakthrough is based upon creating new chemistry using the existing components of these batteries

Already showcased through Knowledge Transfer Partnership UK  26th March 2024  De Monteford University Leicester UK 

Undergoing ASTM validation at a UK approved location to determine the number of recycling phases

C&N Innovation technical breakthrough in spring 2023 following several years R&D and over the past year since creating the solution have focused upon discovering new chemistry and removing innovation oddities to ensure the technology is market ready.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

With over 700 million people globally living in energy poverty the target population is huge and the most effective way of reaching as many as possible in the shortest time is to distribute the knowledge using peer to peer methods.

Our new technology has been specifically created to benefit these people directly as the method can be scaled from artisan through top commercial businesses using what was formally  environmental waste 

How our new technology works will follow a pattern as outlined;

Every alkaline battery purchased no longer is a single cost item paid out of a limited household budget, but  after securing a battery will cost only a fraction of the cost to have it recharged, so during a single lifetime each one will provide significantly more energy at considerably lower costs to a household budget. This reduction in expenditure then can be used for alternative household needs.

There will be an initial need for UK based training of selected international organisation / governments who will be responsible for the local distribution of knowledge to undertake local manufacture of this process

Furthermore by increasing access to energy its use extend the possibilities of use be they employment, education. security or social to name but a few.

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

C&N Innovations has 2 co founders who combined their own interest knowledge and experience in producing low cost energy solutions of many types.

During our careers we have been directly involved with creating of introducing a wide variety of 1st generation technologies. As with each one previously there will have been zero knowledge or experience upon which to call or reference to ensure each programme became a successful commercial solution

Our experiences means that we recognise that any technology breakthrough has  to deliver not only a solution by remain effective over a given time. Any technology must be robust and reliable enough with  information as to its operation be presented  relayed and translated as required for each community.

Training will focus upon international aid agencies, national and international organisations with a vested interest in delivering low cost off grid energy and by committing to working with several personnel from each organisation at each session will encourage a better overall understanding and acceptance

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?

• 1. No Poverty
• 2. Zero Hunger
• 3. Good Health and Well-Being
• 4. Quality Education
• 5. Gender Equality
• 6. Clean Water and Sanitation
• 7. Affordable and Clean Energy
• 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
• 9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• 12. Responsible Consumption and Production
• 17. Partnerships for the Goals

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Please share details about why you selected the stage above.

This technological breakthrough extends far beyond just being able to provide a solution by which to recycle alkaline batteries and as until now we have ensured absolute secrecy of our work.

Having spent 5 years researching possibilities and since discovering the solution 1 year ago during which time hundreds of validation and improvement tests have been undertaken, Today we are highly versed in the entire subject and welcome an opportunity to present our solution to the academic and commercial world.

Now we have moved our understanding to a position where we are confident of not only the procedures and outcome but also on the next stage of development.

Over the past year our discovery has been tested hundreds of times to en

Having been recently showcased at a UK government programme we are currently undergoing a formal process of validation at an ASTM approved laboratory.

Over the past 2 years we have been in regular contact with UK Innovate in relation to government funding and commercial partners

Why are you applying to Solve?

Solve we see is an ideal platform through which we can showcase this technology to a more enlightened partner.

Certainly access to technical. financial and legal partners will be beneficial, but more importantly these will also have access to a revolutionary technical breakthrough which extends far beyond this early discovery

Possibly the most interesting fact is that this approach offers a unique way to challenge energy storage in all formatts and by working with selected partners will enhance both the understanding of its potential whilst removing a significant amount of relisence upon the need for using precious metals for energy storage

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

• Human Capital (e.g. sourcing talent, board development)
• Monitoring & Evaluation (e.g. collecting/using data, measuring impact)
• Product / Service Distribution (e.g. delivery, logistics, expanding client base)
• Public Relations (e.g. branding/marketing strategy, social and global media)

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Chris White & Nigel Goodayle as we both have complementary skills needed to present this solution