# Glossary: Lithium Batteries and Solar Panels | Ecobaterías

> Glossary of lithium battery and solar panel terms: SOH, BMS, LFP, black mass, electroluminescence, I-V curve, RESPEL and SIDREP in plain English. Look them up.

Canonical: https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html · Language: en · Alternate (es): https://ecobaterias.org/glosario.html · Updated: 2026-09-26

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.

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.

- [A](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-a)
- [B](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-b)
- [C](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-c)
- [D](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-d)
- [E](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-e)
- [G](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-g)
- [H](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-h)
- [I](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-i)
- [J](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-j)
- [L](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-l)
- [M](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-m)
- [N](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-n)
- [P](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-p)
- [R](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-r)
- [S](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-s)
- [T](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-t)
- [U](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-u)
- [V](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-v)
- [W](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#letter-w)

## 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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)](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#second-life) | Modules are graded for another application | A different one, such as stationary storage | In our protocol, SOH of 65% to 80% |
| [Reuse](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#valorization) | Legal term that groups preparation for reuse, recycling and energy recovery | Depends on the route | Proven with a valorization certificate and traceability |

Sources: [Law No. 20,920, Art. 3](https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1090894) · [Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Art. 3](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32023R1542) · [UL 1974:2023](https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/ul/ansiul19742023) · [Ecobaterías thresholds](https://ecobaterias.org/en/chile-battery-statistics.html#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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#soh), [SOC](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#soc), [DCIR](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#dcir), [EIS](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#eis), [BMS](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#bms), [Insulation resistance](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#insulation-resistance) | [Battery testing](https://ecobaterias.org/en/diagnostico-baterias-litio.html) |
| Chemistries and components | [Cell](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#cell), [Module](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#module), [Pack](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#pack), [LFP](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#lfp), [NMC](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#nmc), [NCA](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#nca), [LCO](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#lco), [LTO](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#lto) | [Battery repair](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-repair.html) |
| Routes for a battery or a panel | [Repair](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#repair), [Refurbishment](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#refurbishment), [Remanufacturing](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#remanufacturing), [Second life](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#second-life), [Reuse](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#reuse) | [All services](https://ecobaterias.org/en/servicios.html) |
| Battery recycling | [Recycling](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#recycling), [Black mass](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#black-mass), [Hydrometallurgy](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#hydrometallurgy), [Pyrometallurgy](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#pyrometallurgy), [Direct recycling](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#direct-recycling), [Thermal runaway](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#thermal-runaway) | [Battery recycling](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-recycling-service.html) |
| Panel testing | [Electroluminescence](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#electroluminescence), [Thermography](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#thermography), [I-V curve](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#i-v-curve), [STC](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#stc), [Voc](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#voc), [Hot spot](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#hot-spot), [Wet leakage test](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#wet-leakage-test) | [Solar panel testing](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-testing.html) |
| Panel faults and repair | [Solar panel](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#solar-panel), [Junction box](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#junction-box), [Bypass diode](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#bypass-diode), [Backsheet](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#backsheet), [Delamination](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#delamination), [PID](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#pid) | [Solar panel repair](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-repair.html) |
| Storage and solar plants | [BESS](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#bess), [Repowering](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#repowering), [SEC](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#sec) | [Repowering](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-plant-repowering.html) |
| Transport | [Class 9](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#class-9), [Dangerous goods](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#dangerous-goods), [UN 3090](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#un-3090), [UN 3480](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#un-3480), [UN 3481](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#un-3481), [UN 3536](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#un-3536), [UN 38.3](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#un-38-3), [SP 376](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#sp-376), [SP 377](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#sp-377), [P908](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#p908), [P909](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#p909), [P911](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#p911) | [Collection and transport](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html) |
| Chilean regulations | [Law No. 20,920](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#law-20920), [DS 148/2003](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#ds-148), [DS 22/2025](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#ds-22-2025), [DS 298/1994](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#ds-298), [hazardous waste (RESPEL)](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#hazardous-waste), [SIDREP (Chile’s national hazardous-waste declaration and tracking system)](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#sidrep), [Seremi de Salud (Chile’s regional health authority)](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#seremi-de-salud), [Hazardous-waste management plan](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#management-plan), [Authorized waste manager](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#authorized-waste-manager), [Receiving facility](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#receiving-facility), [Preparation for reuse](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#preparation-for-reuse), [Valorization](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#valorization) | [Chile’s EPR law and batteries](https://ecobaterias.org/en/chile-epr-law-batteries.html) |
| Price and documents | [UF](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#uf), [Gate fee](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#gate-fee), [Valorization certificate](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#valorization-certificate) | [Intake price](https://ecobaterias.org/en/servicios.html#precio-recepcion) |

## 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).

Read more: [what an authorized lithium battery waste manager is](https://ecobaterias.org/en/authorised-battery-waste-manager-chile.html)

## 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#delamination), they cannot be fixed.

Read more: [solar panel backsheet repair](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-repair.html#backsheet)

### BESS (battery energy storage system)

A battery installation, with its [BMS](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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).

Read more: [end-of-life BESS](https://ecobaterias.org/en/bess-end-of-life.html)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#nmc) chemistry, contains 5% to 20% cobalt and 5% to 15% nickel. The European Commission classified it as hazardous waste in 2025.

Read more: [what black mass is](https://ecobaterias.org/en/articulo-black-mass.html) and [how lithium batteries are recycled](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-recycling-service.html#como-se-reciclan)

### 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.

Read more: [lithium battery repair: BMS, cells and packs](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-repair.html)

### Bypass diode

A diode in the [junction box](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#voc), one or two substrings are disconnected or bypassed, and the diodes are checked before opening the module.

Read more: [junction box and bypass diodes](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-repair.html#caja-diodos)

## 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#module).

Read more: [what we measure on each module or cell](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-refurbishment.html#tests)

### 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.

Read more: [labels and marks on the package](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#etiquetas)

## 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#hazardous-waste); a solar panel has no UN number, but once out of use it can be hazardous waste.

Read more: [rules for hazardous-waste transport](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#normativa)

### 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.

Read more: [what we measure on each module or cell](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-refurbishment.html#tests)

### Delamination

Separation of the layers of a solar panel laminate (glass, encapsulant, cells and [backsheet](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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.

Read more: [what cannot be fixed and goes to recycling](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-repair.html#sin-arreglo)

### 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.

Read more: [how lithium batteries are recycled](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-recycling-service.html#como-se-reciclan)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#hazardous-waste), requires a [management plan](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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.

Read more: [rules for hazardous-waste transport](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#normativa)

### 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.

Read more: [DS 22/2025 for solar panels](https://ecobaterias.org/en/ds-22-2025-solar-panels-epr.html)

### 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.

Read more: [rules for hazardous-waste transport](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#normativa)

## 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.

Read more: [on-site testing of BESS modules](https://ecobaterias.org/en/bess-end-of-life.html#on-site-testing)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#pid).

Read more: [what each solar panel test detects](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-testing.html#tests)

## 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#uf) per tonne + VAT (19%), and pickup and transport are quoted separately. We coordinate pickup with licensed hazardous-waste transport.

Read more: [how much lithium battery recycling costs](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-recycling-service.html#precio) and [intake price](https://ecobaterias.org/en/servicios.html#precio-recepcion)

## 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.

Read more: [collection and transport of batteries and panels](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#seremi-de-salud), and it covers the annual estimate per waste stream, internal procedures, training and the contingency plan.

Read more: [documents that travel with the pickup](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#documentos)

### Hot spot

An area of a solar panel hotter than its surroundings, visible in [thermography](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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).

Read more: [what each solar panel test detects](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-testing.html#tests)

### Hydrometallurgy

Metal recovery in aqueous solution: [black mass](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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.

Read more: [how lithium batteries are recycled](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-recycling-service.html#como-se-reciclan)

## 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#voc)), the short-circuit current (Isc) and the fill factor (FF).

Read more: [what each solar panel test detects](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-testing.html#tests)

### 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.

Read more: [solar panel testing](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-testing.html#tests) and [battery module and cell tests](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-refurbishment.html#tests)

## J

### Junction box

The box on the back of a solar panel where the cables exit and the [bypass diodes](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#bypass-diode) 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.

Read more: [junction box and bypass diodes](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-repair.html#caja-diodos)

## 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#valorization) of their waste according to targets set by decree.

Read more: [Chile’s EPR law and batteries](https://ecobaterias.org/en/chile-epr-law-batteries.html)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#lfp), [NMC](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#nmc), [NCA](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#nca) and [LTO](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#lto).

Read more: [which batteries we repair](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-repair.html#que-reparamos)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#gate-fee) and setting mandatory recycling targets.

Read more: [what fails in an LFP bus pack](https://ecobaterias.org/en/electric-bus-batteries.html#lfp-faults)

### 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.

Read more: [which batteries we repair](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-repair.html#que-reparamos)

## M

### Module (battery)

A group of [cells](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#cell) connected in series and in parallel, with its structure, connections and sensors; several modules make up a [pack](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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.

Read more: [what can be fixed in a battery](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-repair.html#que-tiene-arreglo)

## 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.

Read more: [how lithium batteries are recycled](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-recycling-service.html#como-se-reciclan)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#black-mass) is sold according to its content of those metals.

Read more: [what black mass contains, by chemistry](https://ecobaterias.org/en/articulo-black-mass.html#composition)

## P

### P908

The UN packing instruction for damaged or defective lithium batteries ([SP 376](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#embalaje)

### P909

The UN packing instruction for lithium batteries sent for disposal or recycling ([SP 377](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#embalaje)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#embalaje)

### Pack

A complete battery ready to install: [modules](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#module), [BMS](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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.

Read more: [lithium battery testing](https://ecobaterias.org/en/diagnostico-baterias-litio.html)

### 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.

Read more: [PID: partial recovery](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-repair.html#pid)

### 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.

Read more: [preparation for reuse and the 30% in Art. 22](https://ecobaterias.org/en/authorised-battery-waste-manager-chile.html#reuse-preparation)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#hydrometallurgy) afterward to separate the metals, according to the IEA.

Read more: [how lithium batteries are recycled](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-recycling-service.html#como-se-reciclan)

## 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#sidrep), its acceptance closes the document.

Read more: [final destination or intermediary](https://ecobaterias.org/en/authorised-battery-waste-manager-chile.html#final-destination)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#black-mass) and recovering metals through hydrometallurgy or pyrometallurgy.

Read more: [lithium battery recycling for companies](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-recycling-service.html) and [solar panel recycling](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-recycling-chile.html)

### 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.

Read more: [lithium battery refurbishment](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-refurbishment.html)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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.

Read more: [what lithium battery refurbishment is](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-refurbishment.html#what-it-is)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#preparation-for-reuse) (Law No. 20,920, Art. 3 No. 18).

Read more: [lithium battery repair](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-repair.html) and [solar panel repair](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-repair.html)

### 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.

Read more: [solar plant repowering](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-plant-repowering.html)

### 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.

Read more: [reuse of solar panels](https://ecobaterias.org/en/reutilizacion-paneles-solares.html) and [refurbished solar panels](https://ecobaterias.org/en/refurbished-solar-panels.html)

Reconditioning: see [refurbishment](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#refurbishment).

Repurposing: see [second life](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#second-life).

Revalorization: see [valorization](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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.

Read more: [used panels and grid connection](https://ecobaterias.org/en/refurbished-solar-panels.html#red-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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#soh) between 65% and 80% qualify.

Read more: [second-life batteries](https://ecobaterias.org/en/second-life-batteries.html)

### 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.

Read more: [compliance and permits](https://ecobaterias.org/en/cumplimiento.html)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#receiving-facility) when it receives it; that receipt closes the document.

Read more: [SIDREP step by step](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#sidrep)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#soh). By air, loose lithium-ion batteries must travel at 30% charge or less (IATA, 2026).

Read more: [lithium battery testing](https://ecobaterias.org/en/diagnostico-baterias-litio.html)

### 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.

Read more: [lithium battery testing with an SOH certificate](https://ecobaterias.org/en/diagnostico-baterias-litio.html)

### 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.

Read more: [what is recovered from a module](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-recycling-chile.html#que-se-recupera)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#p908), or [P911](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#p911) if they may react, and the package is marked “DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE LITHIUM ION BATTERIES.”

Read more: [how each case is packed](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#embalaje)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#p909), do not require the [UN 38.3](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#embalaje)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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.

Read more: [what each solar panel test detects](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-testing.html#tests)

State of charge: see [SOC](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#soc).

State of health: see [SOH](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#soh).

SUSPEL (hazardous substance): see [dangerous goods](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#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.

Read more: [what to do if a battery heats up, smokes or catches fire](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#emergencia)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#hot-spot)).

Read more: [what each solar panel test detects](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-testing.html#tests)

## 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.

Read more: [lithium battery recycling price](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-recycling-service.html#precio)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#class-9) and carry the 9A label.

Read more: [labels and marks on the package](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#etiquetas)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#class-9), with the 9A label, and the dispatch note must state the class and the UN number (DS 298, Art. 30).

Read more: [labels and marks on the package](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#etiquetas)

### 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.

Read more: [labels and marks on the package](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html#etiquetas)

### 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.

Read more: [BESS coverage and logistics](https://ecobaterias.org/en/bess-end-of-life.html#coverage)

### 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#sp-377) do not need them.

Read more: [how a refurbished battery travels](https://ecobaterias.org/en/lithium-battery-refurbishment.html#transport)

## 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).

Read more: [second life and revalorization](https://ecobaterias.org/en/second-life-batteries.html) and [valorization certificate](https://ecobaterias.org/en/cumplimiento.html#trazabilidad)

### Valorization certificate (certificado de valorización)

A document the [waste manager](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#authorized-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).

Read more: [traceability and the valorization certificate](https://ecobaterias.org/en/cumplimiento.html#trazabilidad)

### 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.

Read more: [why a solar panel is not charging](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-repair.html#no-carga)

## W

### Wet leakage test

An [insulation](https://ecobaterias.org/en/glossary.html#insulation-resistance) 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.

Read more: [tests after a panel repair](https://ecobaterias.org/en/solar-panel-repair.html#ensayos)

## 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](https://ecobaterias.org/en/faq.html). If you are looking for a term that is not here, write to us through the [contact page](https://ecobaterias.org/en/contacto.html?segmento=general).

## Sources

- Library of the National Congress of Chile, [Law No. 20,920 on waste management, extended producer responsibility and recycling](https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1090894), Arts. 3, 5, 6 and 10.
- Library of the National Congress of Chile, [Supreme Decree (DS) 148/2003, Health Regulation on Hazardous Waste Management](https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=226458), 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](https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=12087), 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](https://bcn.cl/tjlANp), in force since July 14, 2026.
- Library of the National Congress of Chile, [Law No. 19,496 on consumer protection](https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=61438), Art. 14.
- Ministry of the Environment, [Supreme Decree (DS) 22/2025](https://www.diariooficial.interior.gob.cl/publicaciones/2026/05/07/44443/01/2805526.pdf), Official Gazette, May 7, 2026; summary by [Carey](https://www.carey.cl/publican-decreto-que-establece-metas-de-recoleccion-y-valorizacion-de-residuos-de-pilas-y-aparatos-electricos-y-electronicos) and measurement against estimated waste in [País Circular](https://www.paiscircular.cl/economia-circular/paneles-fotovoltaicos-la-unica-meta-de-la-ley-rep-cuyo-cumplimiento-se-mide-en-relacion-a-residuos-estimados-y-no-a-lo-introducido-al-mercado/), September 9, 2026.
- Ministry of the Environment, [Res. Ex. 821/2026, draft decree on battery targets](https://economiacircular.mma.gob.cl/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1.-RE-821-2026-Aprueba-Anteproyecto-REP-Baterias.pdf), Arts. 22 and 25.
- Ministry of Health, [SIDREP](https://sidrep.minsal.cl/), and Séché Group Chile, [SIDREP declarations explained](https://www.sechegroup.cl/noticia/declaraciones-sidrep-que-es/).
- Ministry of Energy, [Circular Economy Roadmap for Energy 2026–2030](https://energia.gob.cl/sites/default/files/documentos/hoja_de_ruta_de_economia_circular_en_energia.pdf).
- Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC), [Technical Instruction RGR No. 02/2024](https://www.sec.cl/sitio-web/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/RGR-N-02-2024-V11-destacada.pdf), [Technical Instruction RGR No. 06/2024](https://www.sec.cl/sitio-web/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/RGR-N-06-2024_v4-destacada.pdf) and [Res. Ex. 32,427/2020](https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1146347).
- European Union, [Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32023R1542), Arts. 3 and 14.
- European Commission, [battery-related waste codes update](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/battery-related-waste-codes-update-set-boost-circular-economy-2025-03-05_en), March 5, 2025.
- OTIF, [RID 2025, harmonized with the UN Model Regulations](https://otif.org/fileadmin/docs/LegalTexts/COTIF/DangerousGoodsRID/RID/RID_2025_e_1_January_2025.pdf): 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](https://www.prba.org/wp-content/uploads/Sub-section-38.3-UN-Manual-6th-Revised-Edition-with-corrections.pdf) (PRBA copy), and IATA, [Lithium Battery Guidance Document](https://www.iata.org/contentassets/05e6d8742b0047259bf3a700bc9d42b9/lithium-battery-guidance-document.pdf), 2026.
- UNECE, [UN Regulation No. 100](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:42015X0331(01)), electric vehicle insulation.
- UL Standards, [ANSI/CAN/UL 1974:2023, Evaluation for Repurposing or Remanufacturing Batteries](https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/ul/ansiul19742023); IEC, [IEC 63330-1:2024, Repurposing of secondary batteries](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/66561).
- IEC, module test standards: [IEC TS 60904-13:2018](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/26703), [IEC TS 62446-3:2017](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/28628), [IEC 60891:2021](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/61766), [IEC 60904-1](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/32004), [IEC TS 62804-1:2025](https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/71747) and [IEC 61215-1:2021 (preview)](https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/101264/724ac4479c434d3686c03d79704622f5/IEC-61215-1-2021.pdf); partial PID recovery in [Scientific Reports](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26310-y).
- IEA, [Recycling of Critical Minerals](https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/d041f616-2f49-4694-861c-97d489ed1856/RecyclingofCriticalMinerals.pdf), and a process review in [Nanomaterials](https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15161283), 2025.
- Aqua Metals, [What exactly is black mass?](https://www.aquametals.com/recyclopedia/what-exactly-is-black-mass/).
- Zhang et al., [diagnostic methods for retired lithium-ion batteries](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2512.01294), arXiv, 2025; Battery Design, [DCIR and ACIR](https://www.batterydesign.net/dcir-acir/).
- Feng et al., [thermal runaway of NCM cells, Frontiers in Energy Research](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/energy-research/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2018.00126/full), 2018; NTSB, [Safety Report SR-20/01](https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SR2001.pdf), 2020.
- Autocraft EV Solutions, [Closing the EV confidence gap](https://autocraftsg.com/news/latest-news/ev-battery-whitepaper/), May 6, 2025.
- IRENA and IEA-PVPS, [End-of-Life Management: Solar Photovoltaic Panels](https://iea-pvps.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IRENA_IEAPVPS_End-of-Life_Solar_PV_Panels_2016.pdf), 2016.
- IEA-PVPS, [T13-37:2026, Performance and Reliability Aspects of 2nd Life Photovoltaic Modules](https://iea-pvps.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IEA-PVPS-T13-37-2026-REPORT-Second-Life-PV.pdf) and [T13-10:2018, Review on Infrared and Electroluminescence Imaging](https://iea-pvps.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Review_on_IR_and_EL_Imaging_for_PV_Field_Applications_by_Task_13.pdf).
- Millennial Solar, [insulation and wet leakage tests under IEC 61215](https://en.millennialsolar.com/news/314.html); pv magazine, [mass-scale reuse project in Australia](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/08/13/mass-scale-reuse-pilot-project-finds-15-of-second-life-solar-modules-fail-to-meet-safety-requirements/), August 13, 2026.
- 2nd Cycle, [Flash test for PV modules](https://www.2ndcycle.at/en/blog/our-blog-1/flash-test-for-pv-modules-the-performance-test-in-milliseconds-4); QUASAR project, [deliverable D2.2](https://quasar-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/D2.2_Deliverable_Report_final_v1.0_watermark.pdf), June 11, 2025.
- Central Bank of Chile, UF value via [mindicador.cl](https://mindicador.cl/api), September 25, 2026.
- SOH thresholds and panel classes: Ecobaterías test protocol, published in [statistics and technical thresholds](https://ecobaterias.org/en/chile-battery-statistics.html#thresholds).

## Keep reading

### [Frequently asked questions](https://ecobaterias.org/en/faq.html)

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

### [All services](https://ecobaterias.org/en/servicios.html)

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

### [Collection and transport](https://ecobaterias.org/en/battery-solar-panel-collection-transport.html)

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

### [Statistics](https://ecobaterias.org/en/chile-battery-statistics.html)

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

## Can’t find a term, or have a specific case?

Tell us what equipment you have, its chemistry or technology, the quantity and its condition. We will tell you which route applies (repair, refurbish, reuse or recycle) and which documents you will receive. We reply within 48 business hours.

- Reply within 48 business hours
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contacto@ecobaterias.org · WhatsApp +56 9 4011 8111 · Santiago and Viña del Mar, Chile.
Ecobaterías is a Chilean company that recycles, repairs and reuses lithium batteries and solar panels.