On April 4, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) approved the proposal for the international standard IEC 63648 General Guidance on the Discharge of Decommissioned Batteries for Recycling, initiated and led by the State Grid Henan Electric Power Company. This marks another IEC international standard spearheaded by the company. It also represents the world's first international standard in the field of decommissioned battery recycling, filling a critical gap in global standards for this sector.

By the end of 2024, the global market for new-energy storage installations reached approximately 188.5 GWh, with China accounting for 107.1 GWh. Meanwhile, the global electric vehicle (EV) fleet totaled around 60 million, of which over 30 million were in China. The rapid growth of energy storage and EV markets has led to a significant increase in decommissioned batteries. On February 21, 2025, China's State Council executive meeting reviewed and passed the Action Plan for Improving the Recycling System of New Energy Vehicle Power Batteries, explicitly emphasizing the need to strengthen standard development and enhance battery recycling capabilities. Additionally, the EU's New Battery Regulation mandates that batteries exported to the EU must disclose material sources and recycling information.

In recent years, State Grid Henan Electric Power Company, through its subsidiary State Grid Henan Electric Power Research Institute, has come up with a safe and environmental-friendly disposal of decommissioned energy storage batteries. Leveraging the Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Green Recycling of New Energy Solid Waste, the company has developed power battery repurposing technologies and established the first fully automated dry-process battery recycling production line. It has also released multiple national and industry standards, including Technical Requirements for Decommissioned Lithium-Ion Batteries in Energy Storage Applications.

The newly approved General Guidance on the Discharge of Decommissioned Batteries for Recycling will standardize the pre-treatment process for decommissioned energy storage and power batteries, specifying requirements, safe discharge methods, and testing procedures. This will provide a standardized operational framework for the safe discharge and pre-treatment of decommissioned batteries.