Second-life EV batteries could slash Europe's renewable curtailment and lower power bills
Repurposing retired electric-vehicle batteries is seen as a way to store excess solar and wind power, reducing curtailment and cutting electricity costs across Europe.
Europe's power network, originally built for coal and gas, is struggling to integrate remote wind and solar farms, leading to curtailment that cost €4.3 billion in 2024 alone. A 2026 AFRY analysis, funded by Beyond Fossil Fuels, estimates that 375 GW of clean-energy projects and 455 GW of battery storage sit idle in distribution-grid queues, delaying access to cheap electricity for households. Retired EV batteries, which still hold 70-80% of their original capacity, can be repurposed for grid storage, according to Adrian Hiel of Electrification Alliance.
The EU added 27 GWh of battery capacity to the grid last year, and as newer EVs with 50-100 kWh packs retire, the available storage will expand dramatically, potentially driving down electricity prices. Experts warn that if these batteries are not reused, they could become one of the fastest-growing waste streams, despite recycling challenges. Pilot projects such as a 12 MWh facility in California using second-life Honda batteries demonstrate the concept's viability, and similar deployments could help balance supply and demand across Europe’s renewable grid.
Why it matters
Reusing EV batteries could lower energy costs and prevent waste as Europe expands renewable power.
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