Recycled Electric Vehicle Batteries to Power Data Centers' Increasing Energy Needs, as Per Redwood Materials and General Motors
In a groundbreaking development, General Motors (GM) and Redwood Materials have joined forces to accelerate the expansion of energy storage systems, a crucial element in the clean energy transition. This partnership aims to speed up the deployment of grid-scale batteries, using both new U.S.-manufactured batteries from GM and repurposed second-life battery packs from GM electric vehicles (EVs) [1][2][3].
The collaboration addresses the growing electricity demands driven by AI data centers and transport electrification, providing fast, economical, and domestically sourced energy storage solutions that support grid resilience and backup power [1][3][4].
Key aspects of the collaboration include the use of second-life EV batteries. GM's used EV batteries are repurposed by Redwood Materials for large-scale energy storage, as seen in their 12 MW/63 MWh microgrid installation in Sparks, Nevada, which supports AI infrastructure for Crusoe, marking one of the largest second-life battery developments globally [1][2][3].
Redwood Materials' new business, Redwood Energy, deploys both these second-life packs and new GM battery modules into scalable, low-cost energy storage systems designed to handle surging electricity demand from AI data centers and other applications, providing a comprehensive “cell to system” domestic solution [1][2][3].
The collaboration responds to accelerating U.S. electricity demand fueled by AI data center growth, expected to triple their share of national usage by 2028, and the widespread electrification of transportation and industry. These energy storage systems help reinforce the grid and provide backup power infrastructure critical for energy resilience [1][3][4].
Founded in 2017 by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, Redwood Materials collects, recycles, refines, and remanufactures battery materials with a focus on creating a closed-loop domestic supply chain for batteries [5].
General Motors and Redwood Materials have announced a new agreement to accelerate the deployment of energy storage systems based on second-life battery packs from GM electric vehicles and new batteries produced by GM [6]. This partnership leverages GM’s advanced battery technology beyond EVs, contributing essential infrastructure for the clean energy transition by making energy storage more scalable, sustainable, and U.S.-made [1][3][4].
The deployment of these energy storage systems is aimed at strengthening America's energy and manufacturing independence [6]. Electricity demand is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, driven by AI and the rapid electrification of various sectors, including transportation and industry [7].
Kurt Kelty, VP of batteries, propulsion, and sustainability at GM, emphasizes the need for quick, economical, and domestically produced energy storage solutions to meet increasing electricity demand [8]. The collaboration between General Motors and Redwood Materials is a significant step towards expanding GM's battery technology beyond electric vehicles [9].
Redwood Materials' energy storage systems can deploy both General Motors' second-life electric vehicle batteries and new batteries, providing fast, flexible power solutions. General Motors batteries can play an integral role in meeting the challenge posed by climbing electricity demand [10].
In conclusion, the partnership between General Motors and Redwood Materials marks a significant stride in the clean energy transition, offering innovative, domestic energy storage solutions to meet the surging electricity demands of the future.
Sources: [1] https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1132803_gm-redwood-materials-announce-energy-storage-partnership [2] https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/gm-redwood-materials-announce-second-life-battery-partnership [3] https://www.greencarcongress.com/2021/09/20210927-gm-redwood.html [4] https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1132803_gm-redwood-materials-announce-energy-storage-partnership [5] https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1132803_gm-redwood-materials-announce-energy-storage-partnership [6] https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1132803_gm-redwood-materials-announce-energy-storage-partnership [7] https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1132803_gm-redwood-materials-announce-energy-storage-partnership [8] https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1132803_gm-redwood-materials-announce-energy-storage-partnership [9] https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1132803_gm-redwood-materials-announce-energy-storage-partnership [10] https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1132803_gm-redwood-materials-announce-energy-storage-partnership
- The partnership between General Motors and Redwood Materials, driven by science and environmental-science, aims to speed up the expansion of energy storage systems, which are integral to the energy transition and climate-change mitigation.
- Redwood Materials, founded by JB Straubel, a Tesla co-founder, recycles, refines, and remanufactures battery materials to create a closed-loop domestic supply chain for batteries, aligning with the goals of the partnership.
- The collaboration will deploy energy storage systems using both second-life battery packs from GM electric vehicles and new batteries produced by GM, leveraging technology and finance to meet increasing electricity demand in various sectors, such as AI data centers, transportation, and industry.
- These energy storage systems will provide fast, economical, and domestically sourced solutions, strengthening America's energy and manufacturing independence, and supporting grid resilience and backup power infrastructure critical for energy resilience.
