Nissan, ECO STOR, Norsk Gjenvinning and Agder Energi signs MoU around re-use of EV batteries

Nissan and the Norwegian based Eco Stor, Norsk Gjenvinning and Agder Energi have signed a memorandum of understanding with the intention to reuse EV-batteries for energy storage projects as well as recycle batteries when reach end of life in an EV.

Nissan was the first traditional car manufacturer to shift its focus towards electro-mobility, to develop and manufacture the first mass-produced electric vehicle. Over the past decade the Nissan LEAF has won accolades around the world and there are now over half a million LEAFs on the road globally. Norway has been at the center of this transition, accounting for more than 10% of global LEAF sales.

Nissan has set itself the goal to achieve carbon neutrality across the company's operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050. As part of this effort, by the early 2030s every all-new Nissan vehicle offering in key markets will be electrified, as well as introducing innovations in electrification and manufacturing technology. 

The 4 Rs of batteries

Lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles retain capacity well beyond the useful life of the vehicles themselves. The business model of battery circular economy – re-use, re-sell, re-fabricate and recycling of lithium-ion batteries - allows their effective use for energy storage solutions in a range of applications, thus creating a much more efficient use of the battery before they are ultimately recycled. 

The main objective of the MoU is to develop a circular economic business model based on Nissan second life electric vehicles batteries in Scandinavia and the Nordic region. 

All parties will have their specific responsibilities:

- Nissan will provide vehicle battery pack technical expertise and availability of batteries in the region in addition to sharing their expertise on collecting and grading batteries.

- Agder Energi AS will be responsible for financial modelling, energy market and application data, access to the storage market, recycling and processing of materials.

- Eco Stor AS will be responsible for providing energy storage market data, sourcing and integration of second life batteries, remanufacturing and recycling.

- Norsk Gjenvinning Norge AS will be responsible for evaluating sourcing of scrapped batteries, logistics and recycling installations.

The memorandum of understanding was signed earlier this year, and the first battery storage project is already in planning with more information to be shared shortly.  

Quote from Robert Lujan, Managing Director for Nissan Nordic Europe Oy

Nissan is known for innovation and quality, particularly in our electric vehicles, and over the past decade we have also pioneered the reuse of batteries as well as other important energy solutions, like vehicle to grid. Nissan has set itself ambitious goals with regards to carbon neutrality across the company's operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050. An important part of this is the possibility to extend the life span of our batteries. We are happy to be able to utilize our expertise, in partnership with Eco Stor, Agder Energi and Norsk Gjenvinning to transform the energy management systems of commercial premises in Europe´s most important EV market, Norway, and hopefully extending to other markets at a later stage. 

Quote from Trygve Burchardt, CEO, Eco Stor AS

As a leading supplier of energy storage solutions Eco Stor has pioneered development of the technologies to enable widespread deployment of second life electric vehicle batteries. Since the start of our business, we have been at the forefront of this emerging market and have recognized the importance of developing strong strategic partnerships.

Norway’s rapidly maturing electric vehicle market combined with our technologies to enable the reuse, remanufacture and recycling of electric vehicle batteries represents a significant opportunity. As a result of our co-operation with the region’s leading companies and the continuing shift towards domestic battery manufacture and electrification we believe Norway and Europe can establish a clear leadership position in this strategic global market.

Working in partnership with Nissan, Norsk Gjenvinning and Agder Energi to realize a circular economic solution for the growing electric vehicle battery market will represent a paradigm shift in the way this market is addressed today. We believe a move away from small scale, regional recycling projects towards a high volume, vertically integrated and economically viable solution, is the catalyst required to make this environmentally crucial opportunity a business reality.

Quote from Mats Ellingsen Nygård, Head of Strategy, Norsk Gjenvinning

Norsk Gjenvinning is looking forward to this partnership with great optimism, and we are excited to develop the battery value chain with our knowledgeable partners in Nissan, Eco Stor and Agder Energi. Strong partnerships are our preferred mode of work, and the subject-at-hand sits at the heart of our mission to accelerate the circular economy.

We recognize the importance of EVs and battery solutions in a green economy. Norway has a large fleet of EVs, making it a strong starting point to create solutions on an industrial scale. Currently at Norsk Gjenvinning we are recycling 35.000 end-of-life vehicles every year, making EV and battery recycling a natural opportunity for us going forward. As Norway’s leading recycler with a track record of creating solutions for a variety of waste-streams, we are ready to put our efforts into the battery value chain.

With Nissans leading position on EVs and Eco Stor’s robust solution for second-life batteries, Agder Energi’s ambitions and approach in sustainability, combined with Norsk Gjenvinning’s value chain, we have a strong platform together to create future proof solutions in the battery value chain.

Quote from Steffen Syvertsen, CEO, Agder Energi

To achieve the climate goals, we must rethink the existing energy system. We are confident that batteries will play an increasingly important role in the years to come. The share of renewable production from solar and wind power is rapidly increasing and contributes to higher volatility. Batteries can help reduce consumption peaks and furthermore work as a security barrier in the future energy system. Reuse of EV-batteries provides a cost advantage compared to new batteries, as well as contributing to a more sustainable use of resources. This agreement supports Agder Energi’s ambitions within the battery value chain. Agder Energi pursues reuse and recycling of batteries/ battery materials through ECO STOR and ReSiTec, battery cell manufacturing through Morrow Batteries, and battery flexibility for grid systems through Entelios in Germany as well as through the NorFlex-project. With this partnership, we are taking an important step towards realizing a circular economy for the growing battery market says Steffen Syvertsen, CEO of Agder Energi.