JLR Produces New ESS from Used Car Batteries in UK

The batteries delivered have been taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles, and JLR intends to deliver enough batteries to store an overall 7.5MWh of energy –sufficient to power 750 homes for a day – by the end of 2023. 

August 28, 2023. By EI News Network

JLR has collaborated with Wykes Engineering Ltd to develop one of the largest ESS in the UK to tap solar and wind power utilising second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries.  

A single Wykes Engineering BESS deploys 30-second-life I-PACE batteries and can retrieve up to 2.5MWh of energy at full capacity.

The batteries delivered have been taken from prototype and engineering test vehicles, and JLR intends to deliver enough batteries to store an overall 7.5MWh of energy –sufficient to power 750 homes for a day – by the end of 2023. 

Each BESS, which is linked to an advanced inverter to maximise efficiency and manage energy, is capable of supplying power direct to the National Grid during peak hours as well as drawing power out of the grid during off-peak hours to store for future use. 

Battery storage systems like this are critical to decarbonising the Grid, as they can deal with rapid peaks in demand, and optimise solar and wind energy capture during sunny or windy conditions for use when needed.  

As part of the technical collaboration, Wykes Engineering and JLR have achieved seamless integration, with no need for additional manufacturing steps or the removal of battery modules. The batteries are simply removed from the Jaguar I-PACE and slotted into racks in the containers on-site, helping to maximise the sustainability of the project.

The partnership represents an important step in JLR’s adoption of circular economy principles, part of the business’ strategy to achieve carbon net zero by 2039. 

Second-life battery supply for stationary applications, like renewable energy storage, could exceed 200 gigawatt-hours per year by 2030, creating a global worth of more than USD 30 billion. 

Reusing vehicle batteries will create new circular economy business models for JLR in energy storage and beyond.  Once the battery health falls below the required level for these second-life use cases, JLR will recycle the batteries so that raw materials can be recovered for re-use as part of a circular economy. 

EV batteries are engineered to the highest standards and this innovative project, in collaboration with Wykes Engineering, proves they can be safely reused for energy sector applications to increase renewable energy opportunities. Using the 70-80 percent residual capacity in EV batteries, before being recycled, demonstrates full adoption of circularity principles.

Working together with industry-leading partners, we are developing a complete EV ecosystem, from batteries to charging, supporting our net-zero transformation.

François Dossa, Executive Director, Strategy and Sustainability at JLR, stated, “We’re delighted to be working with Wykes Engineering on this pioneering project that will help unlock the true potential of renewable energy. Developing second-life battery projects like this is crucial to helping JLR adopt a new circular economy business model and drive us toward achieving carbon net zero by 2039”.

JLR’s strategy is transforming the business to become carbon net zero throughout the supply chain, products, and operations by 2039.

Tags:

Energy Storage

Jaguar land rover

Produce

Wykes Engineering Ltd

Collaboration

Energy Storage Systems

United Kingdom

Tap solar and wind power

Second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries

Prototype and engineering test vehicles

Decarbonising