One of the main criticisms of electric vehicles (EVs) is that EV batteries cannot be recycled. As a result, they contaminate landfills. However, as technology advances, this criticism is becoming less and less true.
On August 23, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced its partnership with Wykes Engineering Ltd, a prominent player in renewable energy. Together, they are developing a large-scale energy storage system in the UK that harnesses solar and wind power using second-life batteries from the Jaguar I-PACE.
Each Wykes Engineering Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) incorporates 30 second-life I-PACE batteries, allowing for the storage of up to 2.5 MWh of energy at full capacity. These old Jaguar EV batteries are sourced from prototype and engineering test vehicles.
By the end of 2023, JLR aims to supply batteries capable of storing a total of 7.5 MWh of energy. This is enough to power 750 homes for a day.
JLR’s endeavor also includes the potential creation of additional containers to accommodate more second-life batteries sourced from used production vehicles.
JLR’s commitment to sustainability covers various aspects of its vehicles, including the circularity of EV batteries. The company’s EV batteries undergo comprehensive engineering to meet high standards. The collaborative project with Wykes Engineering demonstrates the safe reuse of these batteries for renewable energy applications.
By using the residual capacity of EV batteries (around 70-80%) before recycling, JLR fully embraces circular economy principles. François Dossa, Executive Director of Strategy and Sustainability at JLR, highlights the company’s dedication to establishing a complete EV ecosystem, including batteries and charging infrastructure.
Each BESS is connected to an advanced inverter for optimal efficiency and energy management. These battery storage systems can supply power to the National Grid during peak hours and store excess power from the grid during off-peak hours.
The Wykes-JLR battery storage systems are vital in decarbonizing the grid. They manage sudden increases in demand and optimize the use of solar and wind energy under favorable conditions.
Wykes Engineering and JLR have seamlessly integrated their efforts as part of their technical collaboration. No additional manufacturing steps or battery module removal are necessary. The Jaguar I-PACE batteries can be easily transferred to on-site racks in containers, ensuring maximum project sustainability.
This partnership is a significant milestone in JLR’s commitment to circular economy principles and aligns with its objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2039.
By 2030, the supply of second-life batteries for stationary applications, like renewable energy storage, is predicted to exceed 200 gigawatt-hours annually. The global value of these second-life batteries is expected to surpass $30 billion.
The Wykes-JLR initiative will enable JLR to explore new business models within the circular economy, particularly in energy storage. After the battery health falls below the threshold for second-life use cases, JLR will recycle the batteries, recovering valuable materials to support a true circular economy.
David Wykes, Managing Director of Wykes Engineering, recently spoke about the project with CleanTechnica. He explained:
This excess energy can now be stored in the second life I-PACE batteries and discharged later. This allows us to ‘overplant’ the solar park and maximise the amount of power we generate for the area of land we are using.
Image Source: SolarLinker, https://shorturl.at/bEV19
