NISSAN has launched a Battery Energy Storage Solution (BESS) project at its Americas Headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and electric vehicle (EV) battery reuse. The project utilizes decommissioned Nissan LEAF batteries to create a system that offsets the building’s power consumption, contributing to the company’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
The BESS comprises two separate units housed in shipping container-like structures. One unit utilizes complete 40kWh LEAF battery packs and provides 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of storage capacity. The second unit incorporates individual LEAF battery modules, offering a larger capacity of one megawatt-hour. Approximately 50-60 LEAF vehicles sourced from within the Nissan network after service replacements have supplied the batteries for this project.
The system operates on the principle of “energy peak shaving,” providing stored energy to the building during periods of high demand and recharging during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower. This strategy reduces reliance on the grid during peak times, which often necessitates the use of less efficient and higher-emission power generation sources.
This initiative offers several key benefits, including decreasing the building’s annual CO2 emissions by 3.7 tons. Reusing EV batteries in stationary storage applications extends their useful life, maximizing resource utilization and minimizing waste.
The system also promotes grid optimization thus reducing peak demand, the BESS contributes to a more stable and efficient electricity grid. Utilizing stored energy during peak hours can lead to significant cost savings on electricity bills.
Nissan is collaborating with Middle Tennessee Electric, 7 States Power Corp., and the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute on this project. The partnership aims to study the technical challenges of integrating second-life batteries with varying states of health (SOH) into a cohesive energy storage system. Additionally, the project will investigate potential applications within Demand Response (DR) programs.
The BESS installation at Nissan’s Americas Headquarters will be monitored and analyzed for at least a year to gather comprehensive data on system performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. This project serves as a model for future applications of second-life EV batteries, showcasing their potential to support sustainable energy solutions and contribute to a circular economy.
