Retired Nissan Leaf batteries could be used to help support the grid in the UK under a new partnership between the carmaker and EDF Energy.

The project would see second-life batteries from the Nissan Leaf developed into commercial battery storage

The tie-up will explore options for using the second-life batteries for commercial battery storage. Electricity stored in the batteries would be released back to the grid using EDF Energy’s demand side response platform PowerShift to react quickly to peak electricity demand while bringing a potentially lower carbon solution than relying on coal and gas power stations.

The combined system will be trialled to see how it can support on site generation, greater control and flexibility over energy use, and provide additional revenue streams.

The agreement also covers future collaboration across smart charging, batteries, decentralised generation and grid integration over the coming years

Francisco Carranza, director of energy services, Nissan Europe, said: “We believe electric cars are just the start, and our second-life programme ensures batteries from our cars continue to provide energy storage capacity in other applications – in houses, businesses, football stadiums even – long after their life in cars. It’s an exciting prospect and we look forward to working closely with EDF Energy on these developments in future.”