With its headquarters in Newcastle upon Tyne, Technical Centre in Norfolk and systems operational in the UK, Belgium, Germany and Netherlands, Connected Energy is one of only a handful of companies in the world to have proven that second life vehicle batteries can be used in commercial battery storage systems. Connected Energy has sixteen operational systems across Europe: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK with its largest at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, England.
Volvo Energy, for example, is investing approx. SEK 50m (£4m) for 10% of the company.
“There is a great deal of untapped potential in the second-life use of batteries. This forward-leaning investment aims to facilitate the scaling-up of second-life battery energy storage systems and further secure circular business opportunities for the forthcoming ramp-up in Volvo Group’s second-life battery returns,” says Joachim Rosenberg, president, Volvo Energy. He continues: “Together with Connected Energy, we will minimize the environmental impact of the batteries that has powered Volvo Group vehicles. By repurposing the batteries, we obtain the full value from them – from a climate, environment and business perspective.”
Volvo Energy is a business area within the Volvo Group dedicated to providing essential support and infrastructure during the first-life, i.e. when batteries are mounted on vehicles, whilst subsequently securing reliable and sustainable second-life opportunities prior to battery recycling. Consequently, Volvo Energy supports to optimize first-life, creates and prolongs the second-life opportunities and thereby expanding the value creation from a climate, environment and business perspective.
