Among battery recycling and recovery companies, Redwood Materials is a major player. Their new energy storage division, just launched this month, is working on repurposing EV batteries into a large-scale, efficient energy storage solution. Launched publicly in June, this division aims to deploy 20 gigawatt-hours of energy storage by 2028, significantly contributing to the clean energy landscape.
This new partnership with General Motors (GM) accelerates Redwood’s mission even further. What comes next Now, Redwood is partnering with GM’s second-life batteries to forge a more environmentally sustainable economy. Redwood already collects about 70% of all batteries used and thrown away in the U.S. today. Redwood helps make this possible by incorporating recycled batteries into its systems. This effort does not just help divert waste, but establishes a circular economy in the growing EV sector.
At Redwood’s headquarters in Sparks, Nevada, the company has set up a 12-megawatt microgrid powered by these second-life batteries. On the outside, this microgrid showcases the practicality and effectiveness of using second-life batteries in energy storage applications. Redwood’s groundbreaking and proprietary process allows for the seamless integration of packs from any OEM, multiple manufacturers and chemistries. This strategy diversifies and greatly increases their range of energy storage options.
JB Straubel, CEO of Redwood Materials, said he was positive about developments with the new energy storage division.
“I think this has the potential to grow faster than the core recycling business.” – JB Straubel
Redwood hasn’t been flying solo in this mission. Several of Tesla’s largest competitors have recently begun pursuing a similar strategy of repurposing EV batteries for commercial energy storage. Overall, Redwood’s integrated approach, which fuses recycling with energy storage, makes it stand out among competitors in a fast-growing industry. The firm is committed to being at the forefront of this growing industry. It draws on its unrivaled battery recovery know-how to answer the world’s increasing energy needs.
The successful widespread integration of renewable resources is critically dependent on the availability and deployment of effective energy storage solutions. With consumers and businesses increasingly embracing EVs, the pull for sustainable behavior is already here. Ensuring that batteries can be disposed of and reused safely is more important than ever. Redwood’s projects offer a creative approach that is in lockstep with national and international efforts to tackle carbon emissions, advance the circular economy, and encourage long-term sustainability.