Electric vehicle batteries lose range over time. And, with more car owners opting for electric models, there is a huge increase in dumped batteries. Fortunately, these used EV batteries are being repurposed as power storage in solar farms by B2U. Recently, the SEPV Cuyama facility in California has commenced operations as its second hybrid facility. This new project solves the problem of grid-scale storage and demonstrates the economic & environmental advantages of reusing EV batteries.

Located on a spacious 20-acre plot just outside the Southern California town of New Cuyama, a remarkable solar farm harnesses solar power to gradually charge an impressive array of approximately 600 batteries housed in nearby cabinets. At night when the demand for energy surges, this stored electricity is then seamlessly dispatched to the grid, lighting up homes with natural, environmentally friendly power.

B2U Storage Solutions has recently opened its second hybrid storage facility, the SEPV Cuyama facility, which is situated approximately two hours northeast of Santa Barbara. This remarkable establishment follows the success of their original facility near Los Angeles, which utilizes a staggering 1,300 retired batteries from Honda Clarity and Nissan Leaf EVs. With an impressive capacity of 28 megawatt-hours, this facility has the ability to power approximately 9,500 homes, showcasing B2U Storage Solutions’ commitment to sustainable energy solutions.

The purpose of the facilities is to demonstrate the practicality of repurposing EV batteries for stationary storage before they are recycled. This approach has the potential to enhance the sustainability of the technology’s supply chain and minimize the need for critical mineral extraction. Additionally, it offers a more affordable solution for expanding grid-scale storage capabilities.

CEO of the Los Angeles-based large-scale storage system company, Freeman Hall, said, “This is what’s needed at massive scale.”

CEO Hall said, “We were seeing the first generation of EVs end their time on the road, and 70 percent or more of those batteries have very strong residual value. That should be utilized before all those batteries are recycled, and we’re just deferring recycling by three, four, or five years.”

According to Maria Chavez, an energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, one effective way to reduce the environmental impact caused by manufacturing EV batteries is by prolonging their useful lifespan.

“The whole point of trying to deploy electric vehicles is to reduce emissions and reduce the negative impacts of things like manufacturing and extractive processes on our environment and our communities. By extending the life of a battery, we reduce the need for further exploitation of our natural resources, we reduce the demand for raw materials, and we generally encourage a more sustainable process,” Chavez added.

They store the pack in large cabinets and are managed using their proprietary software. This software ensures the safety of the batteries and regulates the charging and discharging process based on their capacity. Throughout the day, their batteries are charged using both solar panels and the grid. They then strategically sell the stored power to utilities at night, when the demand and prices are significantly higher.

B2U plans to increase its storage capacity by building another solar facility near Palmdale next year. These facilities serve as a testament to the success of the company’s concept, paving the way for B2U’s plans of offering its hardware and software to other developers of storage projects. Currently, the deployment of this technology is quite limited. B2U estimates that by 2027, only approximately 6 percent of retired EV batteries in the U.S. will be utilized for large-scale storage purposes on the grid.

Batteries have not only become essential for reducing emissions in transportation, but they are also necessary to maximize the advantages of clean energy. In the absence of stationary storage, wind and solar power can only supply the grid when there is sufficient wind or sunlight.

Chavez further added, “Being able to store it and use it when it’s most needed is a really important way to meet our energy needs.”

Also See: Engineered Bacteria Play Key Role in Mineral Recovery from Used EV Battery

Benefits of Second-Life Batteries

Used EV batteries repurposed as power storage in solar farms by B2U and in this context Hall stated that utilizing second-life batteries can yield equivalent financial benefits to new grid-scale batteries, while costing only half as much initially. Moreover, he added that currently, repurposing these batteries proves to be more profitable for automakers than simply sending them for recycling. Due to the high costs associated with recycling, which has yet to grow as an industry, selling or leasing retired battery packs to grid storage companies allows manufacturers to extract even more value from them.

The range of electric vehicle batteries starts to decline when they reach 70 to 80 percent capacity, which is why they are generally replaced at that point. However, the good news is that almost all of the important materials used in these batteries, such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt, can be reused. To support the future surge in retired EV battery packs, a robust domestic recycling industry is being established. So, we can confidently look forward to a sustainable and efficient solution for the growing number of retired EV battery packs.

Studies have shown that approximately 75% of decommissioned battery packs can be effectively utilized as stationary storage before being disassembled. It is important to note that certain packs may not be viable for reuse due to low remaining lifespan, damage from collisions, or other defects.

India is also planning to repurpose EV batteries as CEC proposes electric vehicle2grid approach for national grid energy storage.

The Future of EV Battery Storage

Used EV batteries repurposed as power storage in solar farms by B2U
Pic Credits: B2U

The demand for utility-scale battery storage is projected to rise, with the capacity expected to increase from 1.5 gigawatts in 2020 to around 30 gigawatts by 2025. Interestingly, electric vehicle battery packs have the potential to play a significant role in meeting this demand. It has been noted that there is already a minimum of 3 gigawatt-hours of decommissioned EV battery packs lying dormant in the United States, waiting to be used. Moreover, the rate at which these packs are extracted from vehicles doubles every two years. This highlights the growing potential for harnessing these unused resources and integrating them into the expanding energy storage infrastructure.

Used EV batteries repurposed as power storage in solar farms by B2U and according to them, their technology enables batteries to be easily repurposed without the need for disassembly. Remarkably, they have successfully tested batteries from esteemed manufacturers such as Honda, Nissan, Tesla, GM, and Ford, and all of them can seamlessly operate together within a single system.

Hall said, “People are skeptical, and they should be, because it’s hard to reuse batteries. But we’ve got a robust data set that does prove reliability, performance, and profitability. We’re at a point where we really can scale this.”

Source: B2U’s EPS system enables EV batteries to be deployed in large-scale energy storage

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Elliot is a passionate environmentalist and blogger who has dedicated his life to spreading awareness about conservation, green energy, and renewable energy. With a background in environmental science, he has a deep understanding of the issues facing our planet and is committed to educating others on how they can make a difference.

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