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    Second Life for Energy Storage: Element Energizes 53-MWh Recycled Battery Farm

    Nov. 25, 2024
    Approximately 8,500 metric tons of post-recycling waste and 150 metric tons of CO2 is expected to be avoided by reusing instead of recycling 2 GWh of batteries procured by Element Energy.
    Image credit Element Energy
    67449e4790212ecd9ea5f059 Element Energy

    Element Energy has announced the energization of its 53-MWh storage project, consisting of repurposed EV batteries, in West Central Texas.

    The developer enabled the reuse of 900 EV batteries to make up the grid-connected energy storage system. Element Energy's technology has immediate and significant impacts for the growing global battery market.

    “With our commercial project in West Central Texas, we have validated our technology at scale,” Element Energy CEO and co-founder Tony Stratakos said in a statement. “We are now focused on deploying our growing supply of second-life batteries."

    Batteries for electric vehicles eventually reached the end of their useful EV life, but still possess about 80% of storage capacity, according to technology certification firm UL (Underwriter’s Laboratory). Most of this second-life EV batteries can be repurposed and connected for stationary power such as backup energy or grid services.

    Element Energy was awarded $7.9 million by the U.S. Department of Energy to complete the commercial project. The funding was provided from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support technologies and processes for second-life battery applications.

    Element Energy has received and screened about 2 GWh of second-life batteries and plans to deploy the batteries for grid-scale projects. For the 2 GWh of batteries procured by Element Energy, approximately 8,500 metric tons of post-recycling waste and 150 metric tons of CO2 is expected to be avoided by reusing instead of recycling batteries.

    Earlier this month, the company announced a partnership with LG Energy Solution Vertech on providing turn-key second-life battery storage for select customers.

    The partnership would pair Element Energy’s containerized energy storage and battery management system with LG Vertech’s system integration, power equipment, software and maintenance services.

    Element Energy has raised $111 million in capital comprising a $73 million Series B equity investment and a $38 million debt facility provided by Keyframe Capital Partners.

    Other firms exploring second-life battery technology include Canadian startup Moment Energy. The company has secured a $20.3 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to build a manufacturing plant for repurposing EV batteries also in Texas.

    About the Author

    Rod Walton, EnergyTech Managing Editor | Senior Editor

    For EnergyTech editorial inquiries, please contact Managing Editor Rod Walton at [email protected].

    Rod Walton has spent 15 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. He formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    Walton earned his Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

    He was named Managing Editor for Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech starting July 1, 2023

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.

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