Battery Reuse for National Grid Power

author: FutureCar Staff    

The UK's largest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has revealed its plans to repurpose old car batteries for energy storage purposes. This initiative aims to create one of the largest energy storage systems in the country.

Battery storage plays a crucial role in holding excess power during off-peak times, when there is a disparity between the supply of electricity, such as from wind farms, and the demand for energy. The stored power can then be released and fed back into the grid when needed.

JLR's battery scheme aims to provide enough batteries to power 750 homes for a day, equivalent to 7.5 megawatt hours of energy, by the end of this year.

According to JLR, electric car batteries can be reused due to their high standards, even when they no longer meet the stringent requirements of an electric vehicle. Typically, these batteries retain a residual capacity of 70% to 80%.

The used batteries will be stored in containers located in the Chelveston renewable energy park in Northamptonshire. JLR also stated that there is potential to expand the program by creating additional containers to accommodate more used batteries in the future.

Furthermore, JLR believes that used batteries can be further utilized in the coming years. According to a 2019 McKinsey report, the supply of used batteries for energy storage could exceed 200 gigawatt-hours per year by 2030, with an estimated global value of over $30 billion (£23.5 billion).

Energy storage is considered a solution to the challenge of renewable electricity being generated but not being utilized due to limitations in transferring it from its source to where it is needed, primarily due to national grid constraints.

This announcement highlights the fact that electric vehicle batteries often outlast the vehicles themselves. Even when no longer suitable for cars, these batteries can still find new applications in other sectors, demonstrating their potential for a sustainable future.

Colin Walker, the head of transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, emphasized that most of the metals in EV batteries can be recycled, with only a small amount lost in the process. In contrast, a petrol car consumes a significant amount of fuel throughout its lifespan.

FutureCar Staff