Automaker rebrands itself. - Volkswagen intends to develop a massive electricity storage unit in northern Germany.
Volkswagen jumps into the operation of massive battery storage systems for the electrical grid, with the first-ever "Power Center" slated to launch in Germany shortly. This location will keep eco-friendly energy on-hand, according to Technology Board Member Thomas Schmall, who spoke in Berlin on a Friday. The center is set to be located in northern Germany, with groundworks likely commencing in the next six to eight weeks. "We'll be live at the beginning of next year," Schmall added, "and that's when it's full-steam ahead."
Elli, a VW subsidiary, will manage the operations. To start, the capacity will stand at 700 megawatt-hours, increasing down the line to a gigawatt-hour - that's on par with a traditional gas power plant. Multiple "Power Centers" are on the cards, opening up a new income stream for the business in a thriving market.
These facilities are here to hold wind and solar energy in reserve, stabilizing the grid. As Schmall asserted, "Volkswagen's investments in stationary battery storage systems are a big step toward greening energy supply." Still, wind turbines and solar panels must occasionally shut down as they produce more electricity than needed. This can be rectified with substantial battery storage systems.
A 10-fold increase in storage requirements is expected in Germany, where just one gigawatt-hour's worth of capability presently exists. "We'll double that with this one Power Center," Schmall said.
VW also explores using used electric car batteries for large-scale storage. Initially, Elli will employ energy storage systems sourced from the discontinued e-Up - a stripped-down electric vehicle. "For now, we have to use factory-fresh batteries," he stated, "since there aren't enough retired electric car batteries." Eventually, Elli plans to use upcycled EV batteries in the "Power Centers," followed by recycling them.
Last year, VW kickstarted a smaller Power Center in Kassel, where Elli has been interacting with the power exchange network since its inception. Used EV battery systems from the e-Up have filled that setup. Other companies, such as BMW and Audi, are experimenting with spent EV batteries for power storage, but only using them for their energy supply or at charging stations.
