Resources

Technical glossary of lithium batteries and solar panels

Ecobaterías is a Chilean company that recycles, repairs and reuses lithium batteries and solar panels. These are the words we use in each service, with their definitions and sources.

On this page

This glossary defines 68 terms on lithium batteries, solar panels, recycling, transport and Chilean regulations, with the source of each standard and figure. Two examples: SOH (state of health) measures how a battery performs compared with when it was new, and RESPEL is hazardous waste under Supreme Decree (DS) 148, the category in which end-of-life lithium batteries are handled by default. Every term has its own link, such as glossary.html#soh, and points to the page of the site where we apply it.

Updated September 26, 2026 · Reviewed by the Ecobaterías technical team.

Terms: 68 definitions, in alphabetical order
Topics: Lithium batteries, solar panels, recycling, transport and Chilean regulations
Rules cited: Chile’s Extended Producer Responsibility law (Ley REP, Law No. 20,920), Supreme Decrees (DS) 148, 298 and 22/2025, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the UN Model Regulations
How to link a term: glossary.html# plus the term, for example #soh or #sidrep

Alphabetical index

Each term has its own anchor and points to the service or regulation page where it applies. Acronyms come with their full name, legal definitions cite the article, and Chilean terms keep the Spanish name in parentheses.

What is the difference between repair, refurbishment, second life and recycling?

These are the words people mix up most. The difference lies in what is done to the equipment, which job it returns to and which measurable criterion decides it. The SOH (state of health) thresholds and panel classes come from our test protocol; the rest come from the law or standard cited.

Routes for an out-of-use battery or panel
Term	What is done	Job afterward	Measurable criterion
Repair	A specific fault is fixed: BMS, contactor, connector, weak module, or a panel’s junction box or diode	The same	Test before and after the repair
Refurbishment	The pack is taken apart, all cells or modules are tested and the weak ones are replaced	The same	In our protocol, SOH of 80% or more
Remanufacturing	The same, under the EU regulation’s criterion	The same	≥ 90% of the original capacity and ≤ 3% SOH difference between cells
Second life (repurposing)	Modules are graded for another application	A different one, such as stationary storage	In our protocol, SOH of 65% to 80%
Reuse	Used again without a production process	The same (in English usage) or another (under Chilean law)	Panels: P1 ≥ 85%, P2 80–85% and P3 70–80% of nameplate power; P3 only for off-grid uses, subject to SEC requirements
Recycling	Materials are recovered	Raw material for another product	Batteries with SOH below 65% or a safety fault; panels below 70% of nameplate power
Valorization	Legal term that groups preparation for reuse, recycling and energy recovery	Depends on the route	Proven with a valorization certificate and traceability

Swipe to see the full table

Sources: Law No. 20,920, Art. 3 (opens in a new tab) · Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Art. 3 (opens in a new tab) · UL 1974:2023 (opens in a new tab) · Ecobaterías thresholds · Updated September 26, 2026

Which terms does each service use?

The same list, grouped by topic. The last column leads to the page where those terms apply to a real case: a test, a repair, a pickup or a report.

Glossary terms by topic
Topic	Terms	Where it applies
Battery condition and testing	SOH, SOC, DCIR, EIS, BMS, Insulation resistance	Battery testing
Chemistries and components	Cell, Module, Pack, LFP, NMC, NCA, LCO, LTO	Battery repair
Routes for a battery or a panel	Repair, Refurbishment, Remanufacturing, Second life, Reuse	All services
Battery recycling	Recycling, Black mass, Hydrometallurgy, Pyrometallurgy, Direct recycling, Thermal runaway	Battery recycling
Panel testing	Electroluminescence, Thermography, I-V curve, STC, Voc, Hot spot, Wet leakage test	Solar panel testing
Panel faults and repair	Solar panel, Junction box, Bypass diode, Backsheet, Delamination, PID	Solar panel repair
Storage and solar plants	BESS, Repowering, SEC	Repowering
Transport	Class 9, Dangerous goods, UN 3090, UN 3480, UN 3481, UN 3536, UN 38.3, SP 376, SP 377, P908, P909, P911	Collection and transport
Chilean regulations	Law No. 20,920, DS 148/2003, DS 22/2025, DS 298/1994, hazardous waste (RESPEL), SIDREP (Chile’s national hazardous-waste declaration and tracking system), Seremi de Salud (Chile’s regional health authority), Hazardous-waste management plan, Authorized waste manager, Receiving facility, Preparation for reuse, Valorization	Chile’s EPR law and batteries
Price and documents	UF, Gate fee, Valorization certificate	Intake price

Swipe to see the full table

A

Authorized waste manager (gestor autorizado)

A person or company that carries out waste-handling operations and is authorized and registered under current rules (Law No. 20,920, Art. 3 No. 10). The law requires every waste generator to hand its waste to an authorized manager, and requires managers to report the origin, treatment and destination of what they receive to the RETC, Chile’s pollutant release and transfer register (Arts. 5 and 6).

B

Backsheet

The polymer sheet that closes the back of a solar panel and electrically insulates its cells. According to IEA-PVPS, more than 40% of module material defects are in the backsheet. Fine cracks can be sealed with silicone or polyurethane coatings; when they come with chemical degradation and delamination, they cannot be fixed.

BESS (battery energy storage system)

A battery installation, with its BMS, power conversion and protections, that stores energy from the grid or a solar plant to deliver it later. In Chile, the SEC requires the lithium-ion batteries of a BESS and their BMS to comply with IEC 62619, UL 1973 or UL 9540 (Technical Instruction RGR No. 06/2024).

Black mass

The powder left after discharging, shredding and separating lithium-ion cells: it combines the cathode material and the anode graphite. According to Aqua Metals, it makes up 40% to 50% of the weight of an electric vehicle battery and, in NMC chemistry, contains 5% to 20% cobalt and 5% to 15% nickel. The European Commission classified it as hazardous waste in 2025.

BMS (battery management system)

The electronics that control a battery’s electrical and thermal functions, store its state-of-health parameters and communicate with the vehicle or appliance (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Art. 3(25)). In the European Union, since August 18, 2024 the BMS of electric vehicle, light means of transport and stationary storage batteries must give read-only access to that data.

Bypass diode

A diode in the junction box that routes current around a group of cells (a substring) when it is shaded or fails, so it does not overheat. If the panel reads 2/3 or 1/3 of its Voc, one or two substrings are disconnected or bypassed, and the diodes are checked before opening the module.

C

Cell

The smallest electrochemical unit of a battery: an anode, a cathode, a separator and the electrolyte inside a cylindrical (such as the 18650), prismatic or pouch casing. Several cells connected in series and in parallel make up a module.

Class 9 (miscellaneous dangerous goods)

The class of the UN Model Regulations for goods with miscellaneous hazards, lithium batteries among them. Their packages carry the 9A label, at least 100 × 100 mm: seven vertical stripes in the top half and, in the bottom half, a battery symbol and the number 9.

D

Dangerous goods (mercancía peligrosa)

Materials that the UN Recommendations classify as hazardous for transport; in Chile they are governed by Supreme Decree (DS) 298, which defines a hazardous substance as whatever Part 3 of those Recommendations lists (Chileans often shorten it to SUSPEL). An end-of-life lithium battery is a class 9 dangerous good and, unless a characterization shows otherwise, is handled as hazardous waste; a solar panel has no UN number, but once out of use it can be hazardous waste.

DCIR (direct-current internal resistance)

The internal resistance of a cell or module measured with current pulses: it shows how much energy is lost as heat and how much power the battery can deliver. IEC 61960 measures it with a 0.2C pulse for 10 s followed by a 1C pulse for 1 s (1C is the current that discharges the battery in about one hour); the AC resistance at 1 kHz (ACIR) is usually about 70% of the DCIR.

Delamination

Separation of the layers of a solar panel laminate (glass, encapsulant, cells and backsheet), which lets moisture in. It cannot be repaired: IEC 61215 treats it as a major visual defect when it forms a continuous path between the electrical circuit and the edge of the module, and those modules go to recycling.

Direct recycling

A technique that regenerates the cathode material without dissolving it, by restoring the lithium it lost (relithiation). It suits manufacturing scrap and LFP, requires a complete separation of cathode and anode, and almost all its variants are still at laboratory stage (TRL 3–4), according to the IEA and 2025 reviews.

DS 148/2003

Supreme Decree (DS) 148, Chile’s Health Regulation on Hazardous Waste Management, issued by the Ministry of Health and published in 2004. It defines hazardous waste, requires a management plan from anyone generating more than 12 t a year (or 12 kg of acutely toxic waste), limits storage to 6 months, extendable once for the same period, and only allows hazardous waste to be transported with a permit from the Seremi de Salud, Chile’s regional health authority (Art. 36). DS 29/2024, in force since July 14, 2026, restates that permit for waste from priority products.

DS 22/2025

Supreme Decree (DS) 22/2025 of the Ministry of the Environment, which sets collection and valorization targets for portable batteries and electrical and electronic equipment, with photovoltaic panels as a category of their own. It was published on May 7, 2026 and its targets apply 24 months later; for panels they start at 10% in the third year and reach 50% from the tenth, measured against each year’s estimated waste.

DS 298/1994

Supreme Decree (DS) 298 of the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, which governs the carriage of dangerous goods on streets and roads. Since Decree 40, published in 2022, it classifies and labels according to the UN Recommendations. It requires vehicles no more than 15 years old, a tachograph with 30 days of records and the Safety Data Sheet in the cab.

E

EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy)

A test that applies a small alternating signal to a cell or module across a frequency sweep and measures its response. It separates ohmic resistance, charge-transfer resistance and diffusion; it takes minutes and, because of the time and equipment it needs, is usually kept for a group of candidate modules.

Electroluminescence (EL)

An image of a solar panel driven with current in the dark: its cells emit near-infrared light, and microcracks, broken cells and inactive areas show up dark. It follows IEC TS 60904-13:2018 and is taken at the short-circuit current and at one tenth of it; the low-current image reveals shunts and PID.

G

Gate fee (tarifa de recepción)

The price a waste manager charges to receive and handle waste, usually per tonne. At Ecobaterías, intake of lithium-ion batteries for recycling costs 22 UF per tonne + VAT (19%), and pickup and transport are quoted separately. We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste transport.

H

Hazardous waste (RESPEL)

Waste with at least one hazardous characteristic: acute, chronic or extrinsic toxicity, flammability, reactivity or corrosivity (DS 148, Art. 11). End-of-life lithium batteries are handled as hazardous waste unless a characterization shows otherwise, and so are out-of-use solar panels unless they are declassified, according to Chile’s Ministry of Energy.

Hazardous-waste management plan (plan de manejo)

A document that DS 148 (Art. 25) requires from anyone generating more than 12 kg a year of acutely toxic waste or more than 12 tonnes a year of other hazardous waste. A professional prepares it, it is filed with the Seremi de Salud, and it covers the annual estimate per waste stream, internal procedures, training and the contingency plan.

Hot spot

An area of a solar panel hotter than its surroundings, visible in thermography; the most common cause is broken cells, though shading, soiling or a failed diode also produce it. Under IEC TS 62446-3, a silicon cell 10 to 40 K hotter than its neighbors is a thermal anomaly (class 2), and above 40 K, a safety-relevant anomaly (class 3).

Hydrometallurgy

Metal recovery in aqueous solution: black mass is dissolved in acid (leaching) and cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium are then separated by precipitation or solvent extraction, at 95 °C at most. According to the IEA, it made up more than 90% of global battery material recovery capacity in 2023.

I

I-V curve

The relationship between the current (I) and the voltage (V) a solar panel delivers, measured with a solar simulator (flash test) or in the field under IEC 60904-1. It yields the maximum power (Pmax), the open-circuit voltage (Voc), the short-circuit current (Isc) and the fill factor (FF).

Insulation resistance

The electrical resistance between the live parts of a device and its casing or frame: if it is low, there is a risk of current leakage and electric shock. For electric vehicles, UN Regulation No. 100 requires at least 100 Ω per volt of working voltage on direct current; for panels, IEC 61215 passes a module larger than 0.1 m² at 40 MΩ·m² or more.

J

Junction box

The box on the back of a solar panel where the cables exit and the bypass diodes sit. Replacing the box or its diodes is a mature repair (TRL 9, the highest technology readiness level) done without removing the module; according to Suncycle, cited by IEA-PVPS, it succeeds about 90% of the time on recent modules.

L

Law No. 20,920 (Ley REP)

Chile’s Extended Producer Responsibility law (Ley REP, Law No. 20,920), a framework law on waste management, extended producer responsibility and recycling, published on June 1, 2016. It names six priority products, among them batteries, portable batteries and electrical and electronic equipment, whose producers must fund the collection and valorization of their waste according to targets set by decree.

LCO (lithium cobalt oxide)

A lithium-ion chemistry with a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂) cathode. It is one of the lithium-ion chemistries we test, repair and receive for recycling, along with LFP, NMC, NCA and LTO.

LFP (lithium iron phosphate)

A lithium-ion chemistry with a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) cathode, with no nickel or cobalt. When it is recycled, only the lithium has economic value; that is why the IEA recommends charging a gate fee and setting mandatory recycling targets.

LTO (lithium titanate)

A lithium-ion chemistry that uses lithium titanate in the anode instead of graphite. It is one of the lithium-ion chemistries we test, repair, refurbish and route to second life.

M

Module (battery)

A group of cells connected in series and in parallel, with its structure, connections and sensors; several modules make up a pack. In electric cars, faults tend to sit in a few modules: across 559 repairs in 2024, replacing 1.1 modules per pack on average was enough, according to Autocraft EV Solutions.

N

NCA (nickel cobalt aluminum)

A lithium-ion chemistry with a nickel cobalt aluminum oxide cathode. As with NMC, the nickel, cobalt and lithium have value when it is recycled, according to the IEA.

NMC (nickel manganese cobalt)

A lithium-ion chemistry with a nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode; the numbers give the share of each metal (for example, NMC811). When it is recycled, the nickel, cobalt and lithium have value, and its black mass is sold according to its content of those metals.

P

P908

The UN packing instruction for damaged or defective lithium batteries (SP 376): packing group II, each battery in its own inner packaging, surrounded by non-combustible, non-conductive thermal insulation, with absorbent material if there is leakage. A battery heavier than 30 kg travels alone in its outer packaging.

Read more: how each case is packed

P909

The UN packing instruction for lithium batteries sent for disposal or recycling (SP 377): packing group II drums, boxes or jerricans, with a non-conductive liner if metal, and terminals protected against short circuits. Batteries up to 100 Wh may go in a strong box of up to 30 kg, and those of 12 kg or more with a robust casing, in strong outer packaging.

Read more: how each case is packed

P911

The UN packing instruction for damaged lithium batteries liable to react dangerously during transport. The package, packing group I, must show by testing that in an incident its outer surface stays at or below 100 °C (with an allowed peak of 200 °C) and that no flames or projectiles escape.

Read more: how each case is packed

Pack

A complete battery ready to install: modules, BMS, contactors, fuses, wiring, cooling and casing. It is the unit removed from a car, a bus or a storage rack, and the one we test before deciding whether it is repaired, refurbished, sent to second life or recycled.

PID (potential-induced degradation)

Power loss in a solar panel caused by the voltage difference between its cells and the grounded frame. It is tested under IEC TS 62804-1:2025, which covers crystalline silicon but not thin film, tandem or heterojunction; recovery with night-time reverse voltage, heat or UV light is only partial.

Preparation for reuse (preparación para la reutilización)

Checking, cleaning or repairing a discarded product or component so it can be reused without any other processing (Law No. 20,920, Art. 3 No. 18). The draft battery decree proposes that at least 30% of the lithium-ion valorization target be met this way.

Pyrometallurgy

Metal recovery by smelting at 1,200–1,450 °C: cobalt, nickel and copper go into an alloy, aluminum, lithium and manganese stay in the slag, and the graphite burns. It accepts cells and modules without pretreatment, but still needs hydrometallurgy afterward to separate the metals, according to the IEA.

R

Receiving facility (destinatario)

The authorized facility that receives hazardous waste at the end of transport. Under DS 148, it signs the declaration document, confirms receipt to the generator within 24 hours and keeps its copy for 2 years (Art. 83); in SIDREP, its acceptance closes the document.

Recycling (reciclaje)

Using waste as an input or raw material in a production process, excluding energy recovery (Law No. 20,920, Art. 3 No. 23). For lithium batteries it covers discharging, dismantling, shredding, separating the black mass and recovering metals through hydrometallurgy or pyrometallurgy.

Refurbishment (reacondicionamiento, refacción)

Taking a pack apart, testing all its cells or modules, replacing the weak ones, balancing and running a capacity test before it returns to the same job; at Ecobaterías we also call it pack refacción. The North American standard UL 1974 treats “remanufactured,” “reconditioned” and “rebuilt” as equivalent, and Chile’s Consumer Protection Law No. 19,496 (Art. 14) requires written notice when a refurbished product is sold.

Remanufacturing

A term of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (Art. 3(32)): taking apart and evaluating all the cells and modules of a used battery and restoring at least 90% of its original capacity, with cells whose SOH differs by no more than 3% from one another, for the same purpose. We only call a pack remanufactured when it meets that criterion and it has been measured.

Repair (reparación)

Fixing a specific fault, such as a BMS, a contactor, a connector, a weak module or a panel diode, so the equipment returns to the same job. The EU regulation does not define it separately; in Chile, if the equipment is already waste, repairing it is part of preparation for reuse (Law No. 20,920, Art. 3 No. 18).

Repowering (repotenciamiento)

Replacing modules, inverters or other components of a solar plant with new ones to increase its power; when they are replaced to restore performance without substantially changing the power, it is called revamping (IEA-PVPS T13-37). According to the European QUASAR project, at least half of the modules removed in a repowering are usually fit for reuse.

Reuse (reutilización)

Using discarded products or components again without a production process (Law No. 20,920, Art. 3 No. 26); Chilean law does not require the same use, while in English reuse usually means the same use and repurposing a different one. For solar panels, we apply it to modules that have been tested and graded by measured power.

Reconditioning: see refurbishment.

Repurposing: see second life.

Revalorization: see valorization.

S

SEC (Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels)

The Chilean regulator that oversees electrical installations and authorizes photovoltaic products by brand and model, with IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 certificates for new products (Res. Ex. 32,427/2020). There is no route to authorize used or refurbished panels as such, and Technical Instruction RGR No. 02/2024 forbids installing modules with breaks or cracks; before connecting used modules, it is advisable to check with the SEC.

Second life (segunda vida)

Using a battery, or its modules, in a job different from the original one, such as moving from an electric bus to stationary storage. The EU regulation calls it repurposing (Art. 3(31)) and IEC 63330-1:2024 sets general requirements for it; in our protocol, modules with an SOH between 65% and 80% qualify.

Seremi de Salud (regional health authority)

The Secretaría Regional Ministerial de Salud, Chile’s regional health authority. It grants the health permits of facilities that handle hazardous waste and the transport permit (DS 148, Art. 36), which the Seremi of the carrier’s main address issues and which is valid nationwide.

SIDREP

SIDREP, Chile’s national hazardous-waste declaration and tracking system: the electronic version of the DS 148 declaration document, run by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Environment, with registration through the RETC single window. The generator declares when it ships, the carrier when it accepts the load and the receiving facility when it receives it; that receipt closes the document.

SOC (state of charge)

The energy available in a battery, expressed as a percentage of its rated capacity (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Art. 3(27)). It does not measure wear, which is the SOH. By air, loose lithium-ion batteries must travel at 30% charge or less (IATA, 2026).

SOH (state of health)

A measure of the general condition of a rechargeable battery and its ability to deliver the specified performance compared with its initial state (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Art. 3(28)). We express it as a percentage of the original capacity, and it sets each battery’s route: 90% or more, direct reuse; 80% or more, refurbishment; 65–80%, second life; below 65%, recycling.

Solar panel (PV module)

Equipment that turns sunlight into electricity. By weight, a crystalline silicon module is 76% glass, 10% polymers, 8% aluminum, 5% silicon and 1% copper, with less than 0.1% silver (IRENA and IEA-PVPS, 2016). It is not a UN dangerous good, but in Chile an out-of-use panel is handled as hazardous waste unless it is declassified under DS 148, according to the Ministry of Energy.

SP 376

The UN special provision for damaged or defective lithium batteries: those that have leaked or vented, are deformed, have mechanical damage or cannot be diagnosed before shipping. They are packed under P908, or P911 if they may react, and the package is marked “DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE LITHIUM ION BATTERIES.”

Read more: how each case is packed

SP 377

The UN special provision for lithium batteries sent for disposal or recycling, mixed or not with other chemistries. They are packed under P909, do not require the UN 38.3 tests or their summary, and the package is marked “LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING” or “LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR DISPOSAL.”

Read more: how each case is packed

STC (standard test conditions)

The reference conditions for rating a solar panel’s power: 1,000 W/m² irradiance and a 25 °C cell. An I-V curve measured in the field is corrected to STC with the procedures of IEC 60891:2021, to compare measured power with the nameplate rating.

State of charge: see SOC.

State of health: see SOH.

SUSPEL (hazardous substance): see dangerous goods.

T

Thermal runaway

A chain reaction in which a lithium-ion cell heats itself ever faster until it releases gas, fire or an explosion. In NMC cells the separator melts at about 130 °C and the cathode–anode reaction releases the main heat at 250–270 °C; a damaged battery can reignite hours or days later, and the NTSB documented one case after 5 days.

Thermography

An infrared image that shows the temperature of each area of a solar panel or a battery in operation. For solar plants it follows IEC TS 62446-3:2017, which requires at least 600 W/m² of irradiance, wind of up to 28 km/h (17 mph) and a nearly clear sky, and sorts anomalies into three classes (see hot spot).

U

UF (Unidad de Fomento)

Chile’s inflation-indexed unit of account, published daily by the Central Bank of Chile. On September 25, 2026 it was worth CLP 41,016.28, and prices in UF are paid in pesos at the value on the invoice date.

UN 3090

The UN number for lithium metal batteries (primary, non-rechargeable) shipped on their own; if they are inside or packed with equipment, the number is UN 3091. They are class 9 and carry the 9A label.

UN 3480

The UN number for lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own: cells, modules and packs from cars, buses, BESS or e-bikes. It is class 9, with the 9A label, and the dispatch note must state the class and the UN number (DS 298, Art. 30).

UN 3481

The UN number for lithium-ion batteries installed in equipment or packed with it, such as power tools or laptops. It is class 9 and carries the 9A label, like UN 3480.

UN 3536

The UN number for lithium batteries installed in a cargo transport unit, such as a complete BESS container whose batteries only supply power outside the unit (SP 389). The batteries must be secured in racks, with protection against overcharge and over-discharge, and the container carries class 9 placards on two opposite sides.

UN 38.3

A series of eight tests in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria that every lithium cell and battery type must pass to ship as a product: altitude simulation, thermal, vibration, shock, external short circuit, impact/crush, overcharge and forced discharge. According to IATA, repairing or refurbishing with non-original or different-spec parts may require repeating them; batteries sent for recycling under SP 377 do not need them.

V

Valorization (and revalorization)

The set of actions to recover waste, its materials or its calorific value; it covers preparation for reuse, recycling and energy recovery (Law No. 20,920, Art. 3 No. 30). Revalorization is the name we use for giving value back to an out-of-use battery or panel through repair, refurbishment, second life or recycling. The Chilean legal term is valorización (Law No. 20,920, Art. 3 No. 30).

Valorization certificate (certificado de valorización)

A document the waste manager issues to prove it received and valorized a batch, with its weight, origin and destination; the generator uses it to back up its reporting under Law No. 20,920. In the draft battery decree, valorization is proven with tax documents or, when the same party collects and valorizes, with a certified mass balance (Art. 25).

Voc (open-circuit voltage)

The voltage a solar panel delivers with no load connected; it appears on the nameplate along with the short-circuit current (Isc) and the maximum power. Measuring it with a multimeter is the first field check: if it reads 2/3 or 1/3 of the expected value, one or two groups of cells are disconnected or bypassed.

W

Wet leakage test

An insulation test with the panel wet in a conductive solution, at the maximum system voltage for 2 minutes (IEC 61215-2, MQT 15). It detects moisture and backsheet or junction box faults that a dry measurement misses: in an Australian reuse project, 15% of the modules that reached this test failed it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SOH and SOC?

SOH (state of health) measures a battery’s wear: how it performs compared with when it was new. SOC (state of charge) measures how much energy it holds at that moment, as a percentage of its capacity. A battery can be charged to 100% and have an SOH of 70%.

What is the difference between an LFP and an NMC battery?

They are two lithium-ion chemistries that differ in the cathode: LFP uses lithium iron phosphate, with no nickel or cobalt, and NMC uses nickel manganese cobalt oxide. When they are recycled, nickel, cobalt and lithium have value in NMC, and only lithium in LFP, according to the IEA. Ecobaterías tests, repairs and receives both.

What does UN 3480 mean on a battery package?

That the package holds lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own, without equipment. It is a UN number for class 9 dangerous goods; if the batteries are inside or packed with equipment, the number is UN 3481, and if they are lithium metal, UN 3090.

What is the difference between RESPEL and dangerous goods?

RESPEL is hazardous waste under Supreme Decree (DS) 148: it has at least one characteristic such as flammability, reactivity or toxicity. Dangerous goods are a transport classification, governed in Chile by DS 298 according to the UN Recommendations. An end-of-life lithium battery is a class 9 dangerous good and, unless a characterization shows otherwise, is handled as RESPEL.

Are revalorization and valorization the same thing?

Not quite. Valorization is the legal term in Law No. 20,920 (Art. 3 No. 30) and covers preparation for reuse, recycling and energy recovery. Revalorization is the name we use for giving value back to an out-of-use battery or panel through repair, refurbishment, second life or recycling.

More answers on price, pickup, Chile’s EPR law and SIDREP in the FAQ. If you are looking for a term that is not here, write to us through the contact page.

Sources

Library of the National Congress of Chile, Law No. 20,920 on waste management, extended producer responsibility and recycling (opens in a new tab), Arts. 3, 5, 6 and 10.
Library of the National Congress of Chile, Supreme Decree (DS) 148/2003, Health Regulation on Hazardous Waste Management (opens in a new tab), Arts. 11, 25, 26, 31, 36 and 80 to 83.
Library of the National Congress of Chile, DS 298/1994 on the carriage of dangerous goods on streets and roads (opens in a new tab), text in force after Decree 40 (July 21, 2022).
Library of the National Congress of Chile, DS 29/2024, health regulation on the intake and storage of waste from priority products (opens in a new tab), in force since July 14, 2026.
Library of the National Congress of Chile, Law No. 19,496 on consumer protection (opens in a new tab), Art. 14.
Ministry of the Environment, Supreme Decree (DS) 22/2025 (opens in a new tab), Official Gazette, May 7, 2026; summary by Carey (opens in a new tab) and measurement against estimated waste in País Circular (opens in a new tab), September 9, 2026.
Ministry of the Environment, Res. Ex. 821/2026, draft decree on battery targets (opens in a new tab), Arts. 22 and 25.
Ministry of Health, SIDREP (opens in a new tab), and Séché Group Chile, SIDREP declarations explained (opens in a new tab).
Ministry of Energy, Circular Economy Roadmap for Energy 2026–2030 (opens in a new tab).
Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC), Technical Instruction RGR No. 02/2024 (opens in a new tab), Technical Instruction RGR No. 06/2024 (opens in a new tab) and Res. Ex. 32,427/2020 (opens in a new tab).
European Union, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries (opens in a new tab), Arts. 3 and 14.
European Commission, battery-related waste codes update (opens in a new tab), March 5, 2025.
OTIF, RID 2025, harmonized with the UN Model Regulations (opens in a new tab): UN numbers, class 9 and the 9A label, SP 376, SP 377, SP 389, P908, P909 and P911.
United Nations, Manual of Tests and Criteria, sub-section 38.3 (opens in a new tab) (PRBA copy), and IATA, Lithium Battery Guidance Document (opens in a new tab), 2026.
UNECE, UN Regulation No. 100 (opens in a new tab), electric vehicle insulation.
UL Standards, ANSI/CAN/UL 1974:2023, Evaluation for Repurposing or Remanufacturing Batteries (opens in a new tab); IEC, IEC 63330-1:2024, Repurposing of secondary batteries (opens in a new tab).
IEC, module test standards: IEC TS 60904-13:2018 (opens in a new tab), IEC TS 62446-3:2017 (opens in a new tab), IEC 60891:2021 (opens in a new tab), IEC 60904-1 (opens in a new tab), IEC TS 62804-1:2025 (opens in a new tab) and IEC 61215-1:2021 (preview) (opens in a new tab); partial PID recovery in Scientific Reports (opens in a new tab).
IEA, Recycling of Critical Minerals (opens in a new tab), and a process review in Nanomaterials (opens in a new tab), 2025.
Aqua Metals, What exactly is black mass? (opens in a new tab).
Zhang et al., diagnostic methods for retired lithium-ion batteries (opens in a new tab), arXiv, 2025; Battery Design, DCIR and ACIR (opens in a new tab).
Feng et al., thermal runaway of NCM cells, Frontiers in Energy Research (opens in a new tab), 2018; NTSB, Safety Report SR-20/01 (opens in a new tab), 2020.
Autocraft EV Solutions, Closing the EV confidence gap (opens in a new tab), May 6, 2025.
IRENA and IEA-PVPS, End-of-Life Management: Solar Photovoltaic Panels (opens in a new tab), 2016.
IEA-PVPS, T13-37:2026, Performance and Reliability Aspects of 2nd Life Photovoltaic Modules (opens in a new tab) and T13-10:2018, Review on Infrared and Electroluminescence Imaging (opens in a new tab).
Millennial Solar, insulation and wet leakage tests under IEC 61215 (opens in a new tab); pv magazine, mass-scale reuse project in Australia (opens in a new tab), August 13, 2026.
2nd Cycle, Flash test for PV modules (opens in a new tab); QUASAR project, deliverable D2.2 (opens in a new tab), June 11, 2025.
Central Bank of Chile, UF value via mindicador.cl (opens in a new tab), September 25, 2026.
SOH thresholds and panel classes: Ecobaterías test protocol, published in statistics and technical thresholds.

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers on price, pickup, Chile’s EPR law and SIDREP.

All services

Testing, repair, refurbishment, second life and recycling of batteries and panels.

Collection and transport

Packaging, labels, documents and SIDREP, case by case.

Statistics

Battery and solar panel figures for Chile, each with its source.

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Technical report and certificate for every batch
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