Recycled electric vehicle batteries have been used for the energy storage component of a solar and battery project that now powers carmaker Nissan Australia’s aluminum casting plant in Victoria.
Nissan Australia has completed the installation of a 100 kW rooftop solar array and a ‘first of its kind’ 120 kWh battery energy storage system using legacy electric vehicle (EV) batteries to power part of its Melbourne manufacturing facility and supply two new EV chargers installed as part of the project.
The Nissan Node project, carried out in collaboration with the Melbourne-based battery technology company Reelectrifyrevolves around a 36 kW/120 kWh battery energy storage system that includes nine repurposed Nissan Leaf batteries.
Relectrify has developed cell-level control technology that combines an integrated battery management system (BMS) with inverter technology that it claims extends battery life and reduces energy storage costs, enabling the repurposing of high-quality waste electric vehicle batteries.
The company said yes ReVolve battery energy storage product, which combines its cell-level control architecture with the second life batteriesresults in up to 30% longer battery life at 30% lower electronics costs.
Relectrify Chief Executive Officer Jeff Renaud said the company’s partnership with Nissan “puts Australian innovation at the forefront of the global transition to both carbon neutrality and the circular economy.”
Nissan Oceania Managing Director Andrew Humberstone said the project, which is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by 259 tonnes and save 128 MWh of energy annually, provides an exciting window into the future for end-of-life EV batteries.
“This is not only a hugely exciting project, but an important step into the future for waste EV batteries,” he said.
“As an early pioneer of the electric vehicle, both globally and locally, we can also demonstrate leadership in second-life battery initiatives.”
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