Los Angeles-based energy storage company, B2U Storage Solutions, has fully operationalized its SEPV Sierra hybrid solar and storage facility in Lancaster, California.
The 25 MWh facility is made up of 1,300 used electric vehicle (EV) battery packs from Nissan and Honda, according to Electrek. It is the largest operational UL 9540-certified energy storage system in the world to utilize used EV batteries.
The SEPV Sierra System
The SEPV Sierra system uses B2U's patented EV Pack Storage (EPS) technology, which is capable of monitoring and controlling each battery pack to ensure their operating specifications are maintained.
Electrek tells us that B2U has also tested its EPS system with Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3 battery packs and says it can be set up to work with any EV battery without having to be changed.
The company's EPS system makes it easy for EV batteries to be put into outdoor-rated, temperature-controlled cabinets in the original pack casing. This way, the pack's existing battery management system can be used, and repurposing costs can be avoided.
Unrivaled Power
SEPV Sierra has been in commercial operation since 2020, and B2U has been scaling its capacity in phases. The facility is connected directly to the grid, and it is powerful enough to sell power and grid services into California's wholesale power market.
It generated over $1 million in revenue alone in 2022. B2U is now developing additional projects to add to its operational portfolio.
How the System Works
The cabinet controllers of the EPS system connect and disconnect batteries connected in series and parallel strings, ensuring that weaker batteries with reduced capacities do not restrict the output of stronger batteries.
This method allows the system to achieve an efficient energy yield despite the capacity variance inherent in second-life batteries.
In order to automate market bids and improve their trading strategies, B2U has also created cloud-based management tools. This allows them to profit from both predictable price spikes and less predictable supply and demand imbalances.
Second-life EV batteries, which still have a sizable amount of energy storage capacity, have drawn increasing attention in recent years as a means of reducing the waste connected with the end-of-life of these batteries. Systems like this can lower waste and increase the affordability of energy storage systems. Check out this 2021 report from Wired.
Energy storage systems can now utilize used EV batteries thanks to B2U's EPS technology in a secure and dependable fashion. A battery pack is automatically turned off if any component exceeds its operating range and design constraints.
The SEPV Sierra facility owned by B2U Storage Solutions marks a significant development in the field of second-life EV battery energy storage systems.
The facility's success demonstrates the potential of this technology to increase the efficiency and sustainability of energy storage systems while also offering a renewable energy source for the grid. B2U is now ready to keep growing as it works on new projects and adds to its list of services.
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