Nissan LEAF batteries used to store energy at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff Arena

An energy storage system comprised of repurposed Nissan LEAF batteries is being used in Amsterdam’s football stadium, the Johan Cruijff Arena.

Believed to be the largest European energy storage system using second-life and new electric vehicle batteries in a commercial building, the project is the result of collaboration between Nissan, Eaton, BAM, The Mobility House and the Johan Cruijff Arena, supported by the Amsterdam Climate and Energy Fund (AKEF) and Interreg.


The three megawatt storage system provides a more reliable and efficient energy supply and usage for the stadium, its visitors, neighbours and the Dutch energy grid. Combining Eaton power conversion units and the equivalent of 148 Nissan LEAF batteries, the energy storage system not only enables a more sustainable energy system, it also creates a circular economy for electric vehicle batteries.


“Thanks to this energy storage system, the stadium will be able to use its own sustainable energy more intelligently and, as Amsterdam Energy ArenA BV, it can trade in the batteries’ available storage capacity.” says Henk van Raan, director of innovation at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. “The ArenA is assured of a considerable amount of power, even during an outage. As a result, the stadium will contribute to a stable Dutch energy grid. The Johan Cruijff ArenA is one of the most sustainable stadiums in the world and leads the way in introducing smart innovations like this unique energy storage system.”


“We are delighted to be part of the Europe’s largest energy storage system developed for a commercial building. Thanks to the Johan Cruijff ArenA we can demonstrate today that re-purposing the batteries of Nissan electric vehicles can contribute to make the whole energy system more efficient and sustainable. We are putting our electric ecosystem at the heart of a sustainable future, transforming the way we drive and also transforming the way we live’ says Francisco Carranza, Managing Director of Nissan Energy.

The energy storage system balances supply and demand of energy in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The storage system with 3 megawatts and 2.8 - megawatts hour is enough to power several thousand households. This capacity also means that the energy produced by the 4,200 solar panels on the roof of the ArenA can also be stored and used optimally. The energy storage system will provide back-up power, reducing the use of diesel generators, and provide relief to the energy grid by flattening the peaks that occur during concerts.