Common Motors and Redwood Supplies are becoming a member of forces but once more, this time with the intent to construct vitality storage models made out of recycled EV batteries.
The 2 corporations signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to construct vitality storage out of US-manufactured batteries, in addition to “second-life” EV packs from GM’s autos. The announcement comes on the heels of Redwood’s determination to maneuver extra aggressively into the vitality storage enterprise with the creation of a brand new division. The corporate’s first venture shall be constructing a storage system for an AI growth middle in California.
Battery storage methods play an important function in balancing vitality for the grid. These methods can retailer vitality from quite a lot of sources, together with renewables like wind and photo voltaic, releasing it when wanted, which helps save energy in periods of low demand.
The rise of AI is placing growing stress on the grid, within the US and globally. The steepest rise in international electrical energy demand is coming from new information facilities within the US and China, in addition to the manufacturing of electrical autos, batteries, photo voltaic panels, and semiconductors.
The rise of AI is placing growing stress on the grid, within the US and globally
GM has a preexisting partnership with Redwood to recycle scrap from its battery manufacturing services in Warren, Ohio, and Spring Hill, Tennessee. The automaker says this new deal will assist energy its ambitions to broaden past EV batteries and into grid administration and vitality storage. GM has its personal vitality division that sells energy banks, charging tools, photo voltaic panels, and administration software program to residential and industrial clients.
“The marketplace for grid-scale batteries and backup energy isn’t simply increasing, it’s turning into important
infrastructure,” stated Kurt Kelty, GM’s VP of batteries, propulsion, and sustainability, in a press release. “Electrical energy demand is climbing, and it’s solely going to speed up. To satisfy that problem, the U.S. wants vitality storage options that may be deployed shortly, economically, and made proper right here at dwelling. GM batteries can play an integral function.”
Redwood Supplies was based in 2017 by Tesla’s former chief technologist JB Straubel. Along with breaking down scrap from Tesla’s battery-making course of with Panasonic, Redwood recycles batteries from Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Specialised, Amazon, Lyft, Rad Energy Bikes, Lime, stationary storage services, and others. The corporate additionally produces cathodes at a facility in Nevada, and finally at its under-construction website in South Carolina.