On the Viability of Reused Vehicle Li-Ion Batteries as PV Storage for High-Altitude Rural Areas: Case Study in Cusco-Peru

Recent public interest in sustainability, particularly in energy generation and utilization, has led to a significant rise in the amount of large batteries used day to day. The automotive sector has been notably impacted by this energetic transition toward cleaner energy and the growing demand for batteries, as electric vehicles (EVs) gain increasing market share. A direct consequence of this shift to electromobility is the growing number of batteries that are no longer suitable for high-power or fast-response applications. Instead of disposing of these batteries or relying on an expensive recovery process, this study explores an alternative use to second-life batteries in order to benefit rural communities. In the Andean regions of Peru, rural populations seasonally experience extremely low temperatures and high humidity levels, which can cause health issues. These communities often have inconsistent access to electricity from the national electricity grid, if there is a connection at all. Within this context, the present work proposes the implementation of repurposed battery backed photovoltaic systems, where the energy collected during the day is used to provide indoor heating in rural homes.