A German company is transforming used electric vehicle batteries into fridge-sized units designed for homes and businesses to store surplus solar and wind energy. This week, Voltfang, which translates to “catching volts,” inaugurated its first industrial site in Aachen, located near the Belgian and Dutch borders, reports 24brussels.
With a workforce of around 100, Voltfang claims to operate the largest facility of its kind in Europe focused on refurbishing lithium-ion batteries.
CEO David Oudsandji aspires to assist Europe’s largest economy in reducing its dependence on fossil fuels by increasing reliance on renewable energy sources.
Despite the prevalence of wind turbines across Germany’s landscape and photovoltaic panels on numerous rooftops, Oudsandji emphasizes the necessity for enhanced battery storage capacity.
“We want to ensure European sovereignty in energy supply by enabling renewable energy production through storage,” Oudsandji, 29, stated in an interview. “We can generate enormous amounts of electricity from solar and wind energy, then store it in a decentralised way all across Germany and distribute it.”
“This means that the more renewable energy we use, the more storage capacity we deploy, the less we need fossil gas or oil,” he added.
At the facility, technicians assess incoming used EV batteries to ascertain their remaining usable lifespans. Batteries deemed in good condition are refurbished for a “second life” and integrated into large cabinets that function as substantial power banks for excess electricity.
The discount supermarket chain Aldi Nord is among the initial clients, seeking to store surplus energy from its rooftop solar panels for future utilization.
Clean energy push
Founded in 2020 by three university engineering students, Voltfang aims to produce enough systems by 2030 to achieve an annual storage capacity of one gigawatt-hour (GWh) of electricity, sufficient to power 300 homes.
This initiative is part of Germany’s long-term Energiewende, or energy transition. Last year, renewable sources accounted for nearly 60% of Germany’s electricity production, with a government target of reaching 80% by 2030.
However, one significant challenge facing solar and wind energy is addressing periods when sun or wind generation is low, often referred to as “dark lulls.” During these times, Germany has occasionally been required to import electricity generated by French nuclear reactors or Polish coal plants.
In response to the need for reliable energy supply, the conservative government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to establish approximately 20 new gas-fired power plants by 2030. This strategy has faced opposition from environmental groups and members of the Greens party, who argue it undermines climate goals and jeopardizes the nation’s aim for carbon neutrality by 2045.
Circular economy
The battery sector in Europe is still in its infancy but is forecasted to expand rapidly. Marc Sauthoff from the consultancy Roland Berger remarked, “In our opinion, small-scale distributed energy assets such as battery storage will play a major role in creating efficient energy systems.”
The stationary storage market is witnessing exponential growth in Germany, with capacity increasing to about 6 GWh by the end of 2024, rising from 2.5 GWh in 2022.
Oudsandji expressed that Voltfang aims to achieve profitability by next year, although he acknowledged several challenges. The supply of used EV batteries remains limited, as most vehicles on the road are relatively new.
Furthermore, new batteries, primarily produced in China, are becoming increasingly efficient and cheaper, posing competitive pressure on refurbished products. Oudsandji recognized that the process of testing and refurbishing batteries is “more complex” than simply purchasing new units.
“But the big advantage is that it is more sustainable,” he stated. “It is cheaper and allows us to create a circular economy, thus ensuring Europe’s independence in resource supply.”
(vib)
