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On the potential of vehicle-to-grid and second-life batteries to provide energy and material security

Author

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  • Fernando Aguilar Lopez

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Dirk Lauinger

    (Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • François Vuille

    (Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne)

  • Daniel B. Müller

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

The global energy transition relies increasingly on lithium-ion batteries for electric transportation and renewable energy integration. Given the highly concentrated supply chain of battery materials, importing regions have a strategic imperative to reduce their reliance on battery material imports through, e.g., battery recycling or reuse. We investigate the potential of vehicle-to-grid and second-life batteries to reduce resource use by displacing new stationary batteries dedicated to grid storage. Based on dynamic material flow analysis, we show that equipping around 50% of electric vehicles with vehicle-to-grid or reusing 40% of electric vehicle batteries for second life each have the potential to fully cover the European Union’s need for stationary storage by 2040. This could reduce total primary material demand from 2020–2050 by up to 7.5% and 1.5%, respectively, which could ease geopolitical risks and increase the European Union’s energy and material security. Any surplus capacity could be used as a strategic reserve to increase resilience in the face of emergencies such as blackouts or adverse geo-political events.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando Aguilar Lopez & Dirk Lauinger & François Vuille & Daniel B. Müller, 2024. "On the potential of vehicle-to-grid and second-life batteries to provide energy and material security," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48554-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48554-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Koyamparambath, Anish & Santillán-Saldivar, Jair & McLellan, Benjamin & Sonnemann, Guido, 2022. "Supply risk evolution of raw materials for batteries and fossil fuels for selected OECD countries (2000–2018)," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Salvatore Micari & Giuseppe Napoli, 2024. "Electric Vehicles for a Flexible Energy System: Challenges and Opportunities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-26, November.
    2. Ruifei Ma & Shengyu Tao & Xin Sun & Yifang Ren & Chongbo Sun & Guanjun Ji & Jiahe Xu & Xuecen Wang & Xuan Zhang & Qiuwei Wu & Guangmin Zhou, 2024. "Pathway decisions for reuse and recycling of retired lithium-ion batteries considering economic and environmental functions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

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