Distributed Energy Resources, GHG Emissions, Industrial  -  October 3, 2024

Nissan Adds BESS at Headquarters

Nissan Americas is adding two second-life battery systems to help offset building power consumption and extend the use of electric vehicle batteries at its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. 

Managed in partnership with Middle Tennessee Electric, 7 States Power Corp., and the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute, the Battery Energy Storage Solution (BESS) project repurposes Nissan LEAF batteries to supply energy to the building during “peak demand” times and charge during “off-peak” times. 

The BESS project is expected to reduce the office’s annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 3.7 tons annually, contributing to Nissan's global efforts to reduce emissions.

The project consists of two shipping container-like housings. One uses LEAF 40kWh packs and has a capacity of 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh), while the other uses LEAF modules and is rated for one megawatt-hour of energy capacity. In total, batteries from about 50-60 LEAF vehicles are used for the two assemblies. These batteries come from within the Nissan network and are collected after a service replacement.

“Nissan Americas Headquarters typically sees two energy demand peaks, depending on the season,” said Chris Goddard, regional energy and environmental manager at Nissan, in a statement. “In winter, that’s first thing in the morning when employees arrive and the building’s electric heating is in high demand. In the summer, peak usage comes in late afternoon, when the air conditioning is cranked up to keep things cool. This project is about more than just technology — it’s about rethinking how we use resources to build a more sustainable future.”

Overnight, surplus power makes it cheaper and greener to charge the batteries, reducing reliance on CO2-intensive generators during peak times.

The two battery installations will be extensively studied at Nissan Americas Headquarters for at least a year as the team compiles data.

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