Introduction to second-life battery energy storage technology

What is a second life battery (SLB)?

Second life batteries (SLBs), also referred to as retired or repurposed batteries, are lithium-ion batteries that have reached the end of their primary use in applications such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems (Zhu et al., 2021a).

What are the benefits of Second Life batteries?

Second life batteries have shown that together with the integration of Photovoltaics (PV) renewable energy is possible to reduce the cost of the electricity bill for the end user in addition and also to the investment cost that is lower due to the narrow price of the batteries (Saez-de-Ibarra et al., 2015).

Can batteries be used in a Second Life format?

These batteries have many viable applications in a second life format; for example, to provide an energy store within our grid energy networks, to complement the intermittent loading associated with renewable energy harvesting methods (Zhu et al., 2021a; Martinez-Laserna et al., 2018).

Are second-life batteries more reliable than fresh batteries?

However, spent batteries are commonly less reliable than fresh batteries due to their degraded performance, thereby necessitating a comprehensive assessment from safety and economic perspectives before further utilization. To this end, this paper reviews the key technological and economic aspects of second-life batteries (SLBs).

What makes a successful second-life battery business?

The success of second-life batteries hinges on creating a profitable industry chain through strategic reuse efforts, where an effective business plan for echelon use is crucial , . 4.5.1. Business models The market for SLBs mirrors the used automotive parts market, involving intricate relationships among various entities.

Should second life batteries be repurposed?

To economically justify second life applications, the profit made from SLBs should outweigh the recycling profit, otherwise it would be more attractive to immediately recycle EoL batteries.