Storage system in Amsterdam stadium shows potential for used batteries

The 3 megawatt system, together with 4,200 solar panels, accumulates energy that can be stored and used on demand. This provides uninterruptible backup power during highly attended events such as Ajax home games and European cup matches. The project was initiated by Ajax and environmentally conscious businesses, including Nissan, Eaton Corp and the Amsterdam Climate and Energy Fund. During non-event times, the system can be used to reconcile the differences between supply and demand of electricity in the Dutch energy system, contributing to a stable energy grid.

The bottom line: Until the cost of recycling electric vehicle battery packs makes economic sense, there will be a solid business case for repurposing them.

Maggie Teliska is a technical specialist at Caldwell Intellectual Property, an intellectual property law firm. She is also a member of GLG, a platform connecting businesses with industry experts.