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Introduction to Renault’s Advanced Battery Storage Project
Renault, a leader in electric mobility in Europe, has announced the launch of its “Advanced Battery Storage” project. This initiative aims to create a stationary storage system for energy, developed exclusively from electric vehicle (EV) batteries. With a planned storage capacity of at least 60 MWh, this system is set to be the largest of its kind ever built in Europe. The first facilities are slated for development in early 2019 at three sites in France and Germany: the Renault plants in Douai and Cléon, and a former coal-fired plant in North Rhine-Westphalia. The storage capacity will be gradually expanded to include the energy of 2,000 EV batteries. Once fully operational, the system will have a capacity equivalent to the daily energy consumption of a city with 5,000 households.
Purpose and Functionality of the Advanced Battery Storage System
The primary goal of the Advanced Battery Storage system is to manage the discrepancy between electricity consumption and production at any given time. This is crucial for increasing the proportion of renewable sources in the energy mix. By maintaining a balance between supply and demand on the electricity grid, the system helps integrate various energy sources that have fluctuating production capacities. Any imbalance between consumption and production can cause disturbances that may compromise the stability of the local frequency (typically 50 Hz). Nicolas Schottey, Director of the Groupe Renault New Business Energy program, explains that the stationary storage solution aims to offset these differences by delivering its reserves to a point of imbalance in the grid at a given time. This helps to reduce the effects of such imbalances and thus boosts the economic attractiveness of low-carbon energies.
Technical Details of the Storage System
The stationary storage system is constructed using EV batteries that are compiled into containers. The system makes use of second-life batteries (batteries that have been used in vehicles and are no longer suitable for that purpose) as well as new batteries that are stored for future use in standard replacement during after-sales operations. According to Nicolas Schottey, “This unique assembly will give Advanced Battery Storage the capacity to generate or absorb instantaneously the 70MW power. This high power combined with the high capacity of our solution will allow reacting efficiently to all major grid solicitations.”
Partnerships and Broader Strategy
As a pioneer and leader in electric mobility in Europe, Groupe Renault is expanding its role beyond that of a vehicle manufacturer to become a key player in the smart electric and energy ecosystems. For the “Advanced Battery Storage” program, Groupe Renault has partnered with several entities including La Banque des Territoires, the Mitsui Group, Demeter (via le Fonds de Modernisation Ecologique des Transports), and The Mobility House.
Smart Charging and Reversible Charging
Smart charging adjusts vehicle charging based on the needs of users and the electricity supply on the grid. Charging reaches its maximum levels when the electricity supply exceeds demand, such as during peaks in renewable energy production. Conversely, charging ceases when the demand for electricity outstrips the supply from the grid, thus optimizing the supply of local renewable energy. Reversible charging takes this a step further by allowing vehicles to inject electricity back into the grid during consumption peaks. Thus, in addition to being smart charged, electric vehicles can also serve as temporary energy storage units.
Second-Life Batteries and Their Applications
Once an EV battery is no longer suitable for powering a vehicle, it still retains a significant amount of energy storage capacity. Renault aims to harness this residual energy for less demanding environments, such as stationary energy storage. By giving batteries a second lease of life, Renault can cover a wide range of energy storage needs, from individual homes to office buildings, factories, schools, apartment blocks, and even for charging other electric vehicles.
Key Takeaways
- Renault’s Advanced Battery Storage project aims to create a 60 MWh stationary storage system using EV batteries, making it the largest such system in Europe.
- The system will be developed initially at three sites in France and Germany and will be expanded to include the energy of 2,000 EV batteries.
- The main purpose of the system is to balance electricity consumption and production, thus increasing the proportion of renewable energy in the energy mix.
- The storage system uses both second-life batteries and new batteries stored for future after-sales operations.
- Renault has partnered with several organizations, including La Banque des Territoires, Mitsui Group, Demeter, and The Mobility House for this project.
- Smart charging and reversible charging are part of Renault’s broader strategy to make electric vehicles part of a smart electric ecosystem.
- Second-life batteries can be used for a variety of stationary energy storage needs, thus extending their utility beyond their initial use in vehicles.
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