EV batteries reused to power future vehicles

North Tyneside Council in the North-East of England has embarked on a new project that repurposes batteries from old electric vehicles (EVs) to power the EVs of the future.

The council, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is revitalising its Killingworth Site depot in a multi-million-pound initiative aimed at ensuring sustainability and energy efficiency.

The depot, which accommodates approximately 1,000 council staff and partners, has already incorporated a solar PV array and car ports that generate 700 kilowatts at peak and produce around 600,000 kW/h of electricity annually. The council is also installing more than 40 EV chargers, with plans to transition a significant portion of its fleet to EVs over the next few years.

To address the issue of excess energy generated during daylight hours, which was being returned to the grid, the council sought a solution from Connected Energy, a local company based in Newcastle.

Connected Energy has developed a battery energy storage system (BESS) called E-STOR, which utilizes batteries from end-of-life EVs, offering them a second life. These batteries typically retain up to 80% of their original energy storage capacity, making them ideal for this application. E-STOR integrates with solar PV, the grid, and other smart technology, allowing it to optimize energy usage, reduce bills, and maximize the benefits of on-site renewables.

Ian Lillie, strategic facilities manager for North Tyneside Council, said: “By using Connected Energy’s battery energy storage system, we can capture that energy and use it to charge our electric vans and indeed the buildings on site overnight.”

He further highlighted the potential for cost savings and carbon emissions reduction through the combination of solar energy and BESS.

In addition to the battery energy storage system, the council has implemented various energy efficiency measures in the refurbished buildings, including a heat recovery system, efficient boilers, LED lighting, and a building energy management system.

Councillor Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for the Environment, praised the collaboration, emphasising the importance of battery storage in achieving a decarbonised energy ecosystem.

She said: “The redevelopment of the site has given us an opportunity to take positive action in line with our carbon reduction commitment, and the use of battery storage will allow us to stockpile the energy that our solar plant generates, so that nothing goes to waste.”

Matthew Lumsden, CEO and founder of Connected Energy, expressed pride in bringing their system close to their headquarters and anticipated the benefits it would bring to the location.

He said: “The concept for our systems came from our work in the North-East on a number of electric vehicle trials and driven by the mission to find a second life use for EV batteries.

“We now have over 30 systems operating across the UK and Europe – however this will be our first installation in the North-East.”

To share their experience and knowledge, North Tyneside Council and Connected Energy will be hosting an open day on June 14, inviting businesses interested in battery energy storage to learn more about the project and its potential advantages

Image courtesy of Connected Energy

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