Renault batteries find 'megawatt-scale' second life use in Belgium

• An energy storage system made up of 'second life' batteries previously utilized in Renault's electrical car (EV) has been released for Umicore, an international products innovation company headquartered in Belgium.

Drawn from Renault’& rsquo; s Kangoo energy EVs, the batteries will provide firm frequency response to the grid, acting as a revenue generator for Umicore’& rsquo; s commercial website

. Keeping stability of the network at its operating frequency of 50Hz is crucial for enabling the addition of more dispersed energy resources, as the world’& rsquo; s grids move away from centralised generation, also meaning that renewables - described as periodic, or more properly as variable energy resources - can be quicker accommodated. The system delivered for Umicore likewise assists the materials business keep power quality for running its own operations.

Technology provider Connected Energy stated that using EV battery packs as stationary energy storage systems (ESS) in this method can extend their lifetime by as much as seven years. The UK-headquartered business, based in England’& rsquo; s northeast vehicle sector powerhouse, commemorated the inauguration of the Umicore job as its most significant to date at 1.2 MW of output and 720kWh capacity.

'Doubling the value of the battery possession'

“& ldquo; We, typically, are receiving the battery loads when they’& rsquo; ve reached, or fallen to 70% capacity,” & rdquo; Mark Bailey, Connected Energy chief industrial officer (CCO), informed Energy-Storage. news.

“& ldquo; The batteries that are provided to us have actually met our technical criteria and spec, and successfully accredited prior to we reuse them in our stationary storage applications.”

& rdquo; Connected “Energy & ldquo; stays at the battery pack level,” & rdquo; Bailey said, seeing a keen opportunity to tap what stays in batteries that are, he states, built to the highest technical specifications and requirements, considered that they need to have fulfilled the rigid criteria of being safe and trustworthy for usage in manned lorries in their “& ldquo; first life &

rdquo;. Renault is among a number of OEMs and carmaker groups that Connected Energy is dealing with, while staying open to other battery and tech partnerships, Bailey informed Energy-Storage. news in an interview.

“& ldquo; I believe when we & rsquo; re thinking about these days now that we’& rsquo; re talking a lot about sustainability and the circular economy, that obviously there is a lot of worth of resources that are in the battery when it’& rsquo; s in the automobile

“, & rdquo; Bailey stated. & ldquo; What we & rsquo; re doing is generally doubling the value of that asset and the [product] resources already utilized because battery for fixed storage applications.”

& rdquo; As much as sustainability remains an obstacle and an important factor to consider, both 2nd life reuse or repurposing, and recycling of lithium batteries - consisting of cobalt and other products - have actually been referred to as a massive opportunity.

ENGIE, Umicore seeking circular economy for batteries and their products

In order to offer the firm frequency response service, dubbed R1 by Belgium’& rsquo; s grid operator, Elia, Connected Energy’& rsquo; s E-Stor branded system is combined with a distributed energy platform run by fellow Brits Kiwi Power, along with an onsite generator and a load bank.

Kiwi Power now operates and optimises the possessions and their ‘& lsquo; orchestration & rsquo;. In addition to the existing relationship in between Groupe Renault and Connected Energy that the project leverages, there is likewise a big energy gamer backing it: ENGIE is general job leader.

“& ldquo; ENGIE highly believes in the innovation of battery systems. With the energy transition which is presently happening, we need to believe carefully about how energy can be produced in a different way and how ENGIE can accompany its consumers with suitable solutions and services,” & rdquo; ENGIE Generation Europe CEO Cedric Osterrieth stated.

On the other hand site manager Geert Defiuew at the Umicore Olen facility where the 1.2 M system is located said that the batteries both assist to stabilise the grid and increase utilisations of Umicore’& rsquo; s & ldquo; sustainable energy options consisting of wind turbines and a combined heat power plant.”

“& rdquo; & ldquo; The system likewise enables us to further broaden our knowledge and proficiency in the field of rechargeable batteries in '2nd life' applications,” & rdquo; Defieuw stated.

Undoubtedly, Umicore, which also has recycling arms of its organisation departments, is currently working with numerous other partners on circular economy applications for batteries, including work with BMW on developing a “& ldquo; closed loop & rdquo; supply chain for lithium batteries.

Images: Connected Energy