From Batteries to AI: Building Circular Supply Chains for the Energy Transition
The energy transition and the rapid growth of AI data centers depend on large quantities of electronics, batteries, solar panels, and critical materials. However, the systems needed to recover those materials are often considered only after the equipment reaches the end of its life.
Philip Bove will share what Sunnking Sustainable Solutions sees from the recycler’s perspective and how reverse logistics, reuse, material separation, reporting, and research partnerships can turn difficult waste streams into reliable feedstock. Examples will include Sunnking’s battery circularity work with Cornell University, its solar-panel recycling project with Intel-E-Waste and Penn State, and the opportunities and challenges created by hyperscale AI data-center construction and equipment turnover.
The seminar will connect university research with the practical realities of collecting and processing complex material streams at scale. It will also explore how Sunnking’s expansion and Western New York’s research and industrial resources can support more circular supply chains for energy and computing infrastructure.
Bio: Philip Bove is Director of Business Development at Sunnking Sustainable Solutions, a New York-based electronics recycler and IT asset disposition company. He works with businesses, manufacturers, municipalities, universities, and technology developers to build practical programs for electronics recycling, battery management, solar panel recovery, secure data destruction, and reverse logistics. His work at Sunnking helps connect real-world recycling operations and material feedstock with research focused on batteries, critical minerals, automation, and advanced material recovery. Philip has presented at ReMA, the ITAD Summit, the Reverse Logistics Association, the Battery and Universal Waste Conference, and Cornell University events.