JLR repurposes car batteries for grid energy storage

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【Summary】Jaguar Land Rover plans to repurpose old car batteries for energy storage in the UK's national grid. The scheme aims to power 750 homes for a day with 7.5 megawatt hours of energy. The company will use containers in a renewable energy park to store the batteries, with the potential for expansion in the future. The project highlights the potential for reusing electric vehicle batteries, which often outlast the vehicles themselves, and contributes to the recycling of valuable metals.

FutureCar Staff Sep 03, 2023 9:49 AM PT

JLR repurposes car batteries for grid energy storage

The UK's largest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has unveiled plans to repurpose old car batteries for energy storage purposes. JLR aims to create one of the largest energy storage systems in the UK by using these batteries.

Battery storage is crucial for holding excess power during off-peak times when the supply of electricity, such as from wind farms, exceeds the demand for energy. The stored power can then be released back into the grid when needed.

By the end of this year, JLR plans to supply enough batteries to power 750 homes for a day, which is equivalent to 7.5 megawatt hours of energy.

According to JLR, electric car batteries can be reused due to their high quality and ability to meet stringent requirements. Typically, these batteries still have a residual capacity of 70% to 80% when they are no longer suitable for electric vehicles.

The used batteries will be stored in containers located at the Chelveston renewable energy park in Northamptonshire. JLR also envisions expanding the program by creating additional containers to accommodate more used batteries in the future.

There is significant potential for the utilization of used batteries in energy storage. A 2019 McKinsey report suggests that by 2030, the supply of used batteries for energy storage could exceed 200 gigawatt-hours per year, with a global value of over $30 billion (£23.5 billion).

Energy storage is particularly important for renewable electricity generated by wind farms. During periods of high wind, when electricity demand is low or the grid cannot handle the excess energy, wind farms may be instructed to power down. Energy storage can help overcome these challenges by storing the excess energy for later use.

This announcement highlights the longevity of electric vehicle batteries. Even after their useful life in cars, these batteries can find new applications elsewhere. 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 (around 30kg) after recycling. In contrast, a petrol car irretrievably burns around 17,000 liters of fuel over its lifespan.