Why plan at the start
A storage project may run for ten years or more, and by the time it ends the original team, supplier or even owner may have changed. If nobody planned for decommissioning, the owner can face unexpected costs for removal, transport and recycling, along with delays while arrangements are made.
Including end-of-life terms in the original contracts avoids this. Supply agreements can set out take-back obligations, and project budgets or reserve accounts can cover removal costs. Lenders and insurers increasingly ask to see these arrangements.
What the plan should cover
A good plan identifies who will remove the batteries, how they will be isolated and discharged, how they will be packaged and transported, and where they will go. It should consider site access for heavy equipment and whether any modules may still be suitable for further use.
Regulatory obligations should also be mapped. The EU Battery Regulation places producer responsibility on those who place industrial batteries on the market, and similar rules exist elsewhere. Knowing who carries those obligations prevents disputes later.
- Named take-back party and contractual obligation
- Isolation, discharge and removal procedure
- Site access for cranes, forklifts and vehicles
- Transport classification and packaging
- Budget or reserve for decommissioning
- Assessment of remaining reuse value
At the end of the project
Before removal, the system's performance data should be reviewed. Modules that still perform well may be suitable for less demanding applications, while the rest go to recycling. Grading at our benches follows the same A to D classification used for EV modules.
The owner should receive documentation for every module removed: serial numbers, condition, destination and recovery certificates. This record supports regulatory reporting and sustainability disclosures and closes the project's material account.