Innovative Battery Recycling Business, B2U Storage Solutions, Set to Expand Operationally in Texas, Embracing Battery Reuse Technology
B2U Storage Solutions Expands Operations into Texas
B2U Storage Solutions, a company known for its innovative use of repurposed electric vehicle (EV) batteries, is making a major expansion into Texas. The company plans to complete four projects in the region within the next 12 months, totaling 100 megawatt-hours of storage.
The Texas projects will follow in the footsteps of B2U's successful Lancaster project, which has been operating in California for five years. B2U's Texas project, like its California counterpart, uses about 500 used EV battery packs in a 24 MWh energy storage system. This system is designed to charge during low-price periods and discharge during peak demand, thereby balancing the grid.
B2U's batteries, primarily Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC), have proven to be reliable and effective in this role. The repurposed batteries, deployed in their original pack form with patented plug-and-play technology, have shown to maintain battery integrity and operational safety.
Despite daily charging and discharging cycles, the used batteries in B2U's systems are expected to operate effectively for roughly eight more years beyond the batteries' automotive life. This is a testament to B2U's ability to extend the useful life of these batteries by around eight years, leveraging batteries that still retain 70–80% of their original capacity.
B2U's Texas project is a significant step forward for the company, which has been operating used EV batteries on the grid in California for half a decade. The company has already exceeded its initial target of 2,000 cycles from its early Nissan Leaf batteries at its Lancaster project.
The move marks a significant expansion for B2U Storage Solutions, a company that has built real things that generate profits, a rare distinction in the cleantech-startup universe for a company that has relatively minor funds raised. The CEO of B2U, Hall, stated that the company has been very disciplined in deploying capital but now needs to grow to take advantage of the opportunity in front of them.
Interestingly, another company, Element Energy, built a 53-MWh second-life storage plant in Texas last year. Lithium-ion recycling startup Redwood Materials, founded by JB Straubel and having raised $2 billion for battery recycling, unveiled a 63-MWh second-life battery business this summer.
The entry of Redwood Materials into the scene is viewed by Hall as more encouraging than intimidating. Hall sees their belief in the repurposing market growing faster and generating more revenue than their core business as a validation point for B2U's approach.
B2U has reduced the cost of its second-life battery projects by half compared to new lithium-ion facilities, with new enclosures coming down to $150 to $180 per kilowatt-hour. This cost reduction, coupled with the reliability and longevity of B2U's systems, positions the company well for continued growth in the Texas market and beyond.
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