California-based firm Element Energy has raised a US$28 million Series B to accelerate its proprietary BMS-enhanced second life energy storage solution, with 2.5GWh of modules secured already.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has provided US$7.9 million for a 50MWh battery energy storage project using second life EV batteries in the ERCOT, Texas market, by Element Energy and NextEra Energy Resources.

Finland and California-based second life energy storage firms Cactos and Smartville Inc have raised nearly US$10 million to commercialise systems using repurposed Tesla EV batteries – we talk to both company founders.

Fenecon has begun construction of factory in Germany which will repurpose electric vehicle (EV) batteries into stationary storage systems.

Could we start seeing ‘third life’ or even ‘fourth life’ energy storage, with EV batteries deployed in multiple different systems in their lifetime?

Oslo-based second life battery storage solutions firm Evyon has raised €8 million (US$8.3 million) in a pre-Series A fundraising round, led by VC firm Sandwater.

While battery storage growth in the US continues to vastly outpace that of Europe, the repurposing of used EV batteries into second life stationary storage systems is far more developed in the latter.

Nissan, Renault and Mercedes-Benz are at the forefront of providing EV batteries for companies developing second life battery energy storage systems (BESS), but the market for such batteries is still thinly-traded. 

Automotive group Toyota and utility JERA have commissioned a battery storage system made up of lithium-ion, nickel metal-hydride and lead acid cells, something relatively novel in the sector.

A roundup of energy storage news from Europe and South Africa, with Neoen, RWE and Bushveld / CellCube announcing major projects.