Normal Motors and Redwood Supplies are becoming a member of forces yet again, this time with the intent to construct vitality storage models made out of recycled EV batteries.
The 2 firms 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 resolution to maneuver extra aggressively into the vitality storage enterprise with the creation of a new division. The corporate’s first venture might be constructing a storage system for an AI improvement middle in California.
Battery storage methods play a vital 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 world electrical energy demand is coming from new data centers in 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 prospects.
“The marketplace for grid-scale batteries and backup energy isn’t simply increasing, it’s changing into important
infrastructure,” mentioned Kurt Kelty, GM’s VP of batteries, propulsion, and sustainability, in an announcement. “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 house. 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, Specialized, Amazon, Lyft, Rad Power Bikes, Lime, stationary storage facilities, and others. The corporate additionally produces cathodes at a facility in Nevada, and finally at its under-construction website in South Carolina.