Nissan and Eaton have joined forces to provide an innovative energy storage solution incorporating renewable energy sources for cloud and IT services hosting company Webaxys' new, 'eco-responsible' data centre based at the Saint-Romain de Colbosc Eco Park in Normandy.

The energy storage solution provides a 'second-life' for Nissan electric vehicle batteries and in combination with Eaton's leading uninterruptible power supply capabilities, provides an industrialised energy control and storage solution for managing data centres. This innovative solution not only enables integration with local renewable sources, but allows companies to draw down from and provide energy back to the grid, ensuring stable and cost efficient energy management systems.

Data centres already make up 1.5% to 2% of worldwide electricity consumption, and this rises sharply each year. However, the energy demands of data centres, which cannot tolerate the slightest power outage, makes the application of renewable energy sources particularly difficult. This new Eaton and Nissan energy control and storage system will mean firms like Webaxys can store energy once produced so that it can be used on demand to power the business. This overcomes risks associated with renewable energy sources which are more susceptible to interruptions in supply and ensures the supply of pure, quality power.

"This installation at Webaxys marks an important historical moment for data centres in their quest to become energy autonomous in the near future. By combining Nissan's expertise in vehicle design and reliable battery technology with Eaton's leadership in power quality and electronics, we hope to demonstrate that data centre energy management can be stable, sustainable and cost efficient in the near future." Gareth Dunsmore, Director of Electric Vehicles, Nissan Europe said:

During the COP21 Paris Climate Change Summit last year, Eaton and Nissan announced a partnership that was designed to bring energy storage solutions to market. The ambition was to combine powerful electronics and ordering software with renewable energy production and storage in one system. As the global leader in the electric vehicle market, Nissan's EV batteries will be given a second life and will be reused within the system. This eco-responsible approach maximises the usage of these batteries before the end of their life, minimising the use of natural resources.

Following the opening of the site at Saint-Romain de Colbosc in Normandy, Webaxys plans to open a series of regional data centres that harness this same technology and integrate into the local economy, minimising environmental impact and energy consumption.

Source and top image: Nissan