Old Nissan Leaf EV batteries used as storage to back up Spanish coal plant

Japanese automaker Nissan has partnered with Italian utility Enel Group to launch a project that will use end-of-life Nissan EV batteries as part of a standalone 4MW/1.7MWh battery storage system.

The battery storage system will comprise the batteries of 48 used Nissan Leaf batteries and 30 new Nissan Leaf battery packs, and will be located at a coal-fired power plant in Melilla, Spain, and will be operated by the Enel Group’s Spanish subsidiary, Endesa.

It will provide grid stability to the local Melilla electricity network, by kicking in when the coal plant suffers problems and disconnects from the system, giving operators enough time to reset the system and restart the power supply.

“The development of storage technology is key if we want to foster greater renewable penetration in our energy systems, so we can truly shape the power generation of the future,” said Salvatore Bernabei, CEO of Enel Green Power.

“This project demonstrates that, in line with the Open Innovation principles, we can find solutions for the management of the end of life of essential equipment such as batteries, a topic which is at the core of the sustainable energy issue.”

EV batteries, even after reaching the end of their usable lifespan in a car, can still be perfectly suited for stationary storage purposes, given the enhanced needs of batteries in EVs.

“This is a great example of the endless possibilities that come with reusing electric vehicle batteries as part of a circular economy,” said Soufiane Elkhomri, director of energy services for the Nissan AMIEO region.