Rechargeable batteries that have reached end of use in their first application life are a viable option for large–scale, commercial electrical storage systems.
Finding a technically attractive and cost–efficient way to store energy from intermittent sources, such as solar and wind power, is a major challenge, but one with many possible solutions. Obviously, there is no single “best” solution here, as it depends on the needed electrical capacity, charge, discharge, and use cycles, physical siting, costs, and many other factors. The list includes but is not limited to stored water, gravity and weights, flywheels, molten salts, compressed gases, and batteries, of course.
There is even a battery option for these electrical storage systems (ESS) with an unusual twist: the use of “retired” battery packs (that’s a euphemism for “used”), which are generally (but not exclusively) taken from cars and trucks of various types.
These used batteries can be from vehicles that have reached the end of their road life, those salvaged from vehicles in accidents, or from used cars that are being refurnished by the manufacturer, dealer, or even an independent shop. The widely used standard is to declare the battery “done” for its initial applications when its capacity drops to 80% of the original value.
10/17-19 EAC