BATTERIES used in making the British-built Nissan Leaf have been recycled to create a power hub at a major international airport.

Using acutting-edge Battery Energy Storage System for Aeroporti di Roma's Fiumicino Airport - Italy's largest international transport hub - Nissan has supplied 84second-life Nissan Leaf batteries - totalling 2.1 MWh of energy storage.

The Pioneer initiative, co-funded by EU Innovation Funds, forms part of the airport's ambitionto achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 and demonstrates the potential of ‘end of life' EVtechnology to deliver clean, flexible energy beyond its use in vehicles.

Pioneer is coupled with a solar farm of 55,000 solar panels due to generate 31 GWh ofrenewable energy per year to provide reliable, clean power to the airport terminals, aswell as flexible services to the airport grid.

The reused Gen 3 30kWh and Gen 4 40kWh Leaf batteries, sourced from high-mileagevehicles and warranty returns, have been carefully requalified to meet strict safety andperformance standards.

Nissan predicts the second-life batteries will remain operationalfor more than seven years at the airport, even when used daily.

Soufiane El Khomri, Nissan energy director for the company's Africa, MiddleEast, India, Europe and Oceania region, said: "This project not onlydemonstrates the long-term viability of repurposed EV batteries in demandingenvironments, but underscores Nissan's commitment to sustainable end-of-life batterymanagement.

"Our team is involved in the technical integration of second-life batteries into the ESS,the simulation of battery lifespan, and providing warranties for their performance in thenew system. Just as importantly, once the batteries reach the end of their useful life onthis project, we take full responsibility for their recycling."

Similar energy storage projects such as the Melilla ESS in Spain and the Nomadic LabAlliance InternalESS system have proved the effectiveness and reliability of Nissan's second-life batterytechnology in providing stable, renewable energy solutions.

El Khomri added: "We are turning potential waste into valuable energy assets. Our re-use strategy not only supports large-scale industrial projects such as Aeorporti di Roma'sFiumicino Airport, but also shows potential for use in the home such as backup duringpower cuts.

"As we continue to scale battery reuse and recycling, we are advancing our broadermission toward a cleaner, more energy-efficient future."