Belectric lends life to thousands of electric car batteries
Belectric says it has commissioned three large projects in the UK and Germany based on thousands of electric car batteries, both used and new. The batteries from different manufacturers have a total capacity of 40 MWh and are providing frequency response services to grids in Europe.
Belectric is a PV and battery storage specialist and has recently realised three new large scale energy storage facilities based on first and second life automotive battery modules.
The largest projects opened in Wales with a capacity of 22 MW and has been commissioned by Vattenfall using 500 BMW i3 batteries according to our information (we reported). The storage is tied into an existing wind farm and provides frequency services to Great Britain’s National Grid under an Enhanced Frequency Response contract for four years.
For systems up to 20 MWh, Belectric usually tailors the container layout to the specific requirements of the battery modules in its production facilities in Germany. They also commissioned systems using dedicated battery housing units, which have proven to be more economical for larger projects. Says Amit Oza, one of Belectric’s sales directors: “We always design our battery storage systems to the respective applications and usage requirements the customer has in mind, while also utilising competitive technologies from our solar PV plants.”
BMW and Vattenfall are not the only clients of Belectric. Recent installations in Germany include a new system built on the premises of a large-scale car manufacturing plant, utilising the battery modules that also power electric and hybrid vehicles made at the same plant. The battery storage system has a capacity of roughly 14 MW.
Lastly Belectric commissioned another storage system based on automotive batteries, again in Germany. The storage with a capacity of roughly 7 MW enhances the operational capabilities of an existing power station, and also provides frequency response services to the European electricity grid.
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