Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 3 hrs ago
Redwood and Rivian use retired EV batteries to power factories
Redwood Materials and Rivian are using retired electric vehicle batteries for factory energy storage in the United States.
Batteries that no longer have enough capacity for driving can still store electricity for stationary use.
Redwood evaluates used packs, directing some to storage systems and others to recycling for their materials.
Rivian already has a 10-megawatt-hour system at its factory in Normal, Illinois, which Redwood calls the first of its kind at a US automaker’s manufacturing plant.
This approach could help manufacturers facing delays in getting new grid connections and reliable power.
Redwood plans to combine batteries with solar and other energy sources in larger microgrids for factories and data centers.
Those systems could help sites come online sooner, but their effectiveness will depend on local demand, available power generation and installation costs.
Redwood Materials is working with Rivian to use retired electric vehicle batteries in storage systems at Rivian manufacturing facilities.
Rivian operates a 10-megawatt-hour second-life battery system at its factory in Normal, Illinois.
Redwood evaluates used Rivian batteries for reuse in energy storage or recycling to recover materials.
The effort addresses power constraints facing manufacturers and data center operators, which can wait years for new grid connections.
Redwood plans to combine battery storage with solar and other energy sources to develop microgrids for industrial sites and data centers.
- Who
- Redwood Materials and Rivian.
- What
- They are using retired EV batteries in factory energy storage systems.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Rivian’s factory in Normal, Illinois, and its other manufacturing facilities.
- Why
- To give suitable used batteries another use and help address industrial power constraints.
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- Battery system
- 10 megawatt-hours
- Factory location
- Normal, Illinois
- Battery sources
- Rivian vehicles and service centers
- Planned energy sources
- Battery storage, solar power and other energy sources