Speaking on a panel at the 2024 Solar Power Africa conference in Cape Town, South Africa, five experienced speakers reflected on a clear opportunity in South Africa’s energy market to provide much-needed energy storage for energy security in a circular way. Second-life batteries, also known as “reused” or “repurposed” batteries, refer to batteries that have been removed from their original application, such as electric vehicles (EVs) or renewable energy storage systems, but still have a significant amount of remaining capacity and useful life. In an energy-strapped country like South Africa, Wido Schnabel, Business Development Director of sub-Saharan Africa for Canadian Solar, says that second-life batteries are the way to go. Managing second-life battery safetyRepurposing these batteries helps extend their useful lifespan, reduces waste, and can provide cost-effective energy storage solutions, contributing to the sustainability of battery technology and the broader energy ecosystem. If battery cell health is maintained, most battery life is still available for use after first-life degradation occurs.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 12, 2024 10:31 UTC