A novel route to the life extension of used electric vehicle (EV) batteries is being followed in the Enel Group's Second Life project. Launched in collaboration with Nissan, the project has installed EV batteries as a source of energy at a conventional power plant in Melilla operated by Enel’s Spanish subsidiary Endesa.

The 4 MW system combines 48 second life and 30 new LEAF batteries supplied by Nissan to produce up to 1.7 MWh. In the event of a power supply disruption, the storage facility can inject energy into the city of Melilla’s electricity grid for 15 minutes, which is enough time to reset the system and restart the power supply.

The Second Life initiative is designed to improve the reliability of the grid and secure the continuity of network service to the local population. Project engineers have also demonstrated an innovative approach to EV battery life extension: when each battery pack is removed from an EV, it is then placed directly in the overall storage system exactly as it was placed in the vehicle, without the need for disassembling each pack down to the single cell level, making the whole process simpler, safer and cheaper.

In another venture initiated by Enel, second life EV batteries will be integrated into a 30 MW solar park under construction at Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy. A 10 MWh storage system based on vehicle batteries from multiple car manufacturers in their second-life cycle will be installed to enhance interoperability, reduce airport emissions and optimize system cost. The batteries will be used to store the excess energy produced by the solar plant and cover any evening energy demand peaks at the airport, while also providing services to the grid.