STABL Energy implements first second-life storage system with project partners

STABL Energy’s solution enables the safe and efficient use of discarded electric vehicle batteries, which are so-called second-life storage systems. The first pilot storage facility is now in operation, and renowned project partners are on board.

Battery storage systems are key to a successful energy transition. They can store surplus electricity from solar and wind energy and make it available when the sun is no longer shining or the wind is not blowing.
At the same time, batteries are needed to meet the high demand for electric vehicles. However, the batteries in the car have a limited service life. After 10 to 15 years, they no longer meet mobility requirements but can theoretically still be used in stationary applications for the energy transition. They are, therefore, given a second life. This is why they are also known as second-life batteries.

The challenge of second-life storage

However, recycling these second-life batteries has technical hurdles: conventional storage systems contain many battery modules. Like any chain, this static chain of battery storage units has the characteristic that the weakest link determines the performance. Specifically, the storage unit with the lowest energy content determines the capacity to be drawn. However, used vehicle batteries are in different states after many years, for example, due to various loads and production tolerances. Therefore, the conventional stationary storage system approach is unsuitable for second-life.

STABL Energy has developed an innovative solution that makes battery storage systems more efficient and safer, enabling the integration of large quantities of discarded batteries from electric vehicles. The STABL technology can easily handle the sometimes very different residual capacities of the vehicle’s battery modules, allowing the batteries to be used for longer. STABL Energy’s first product—the SI100—connects the battery modules to the power grid without needing an inverter.

First second-life storage facility with STABL technology now in operation

STABL Energy has installed its technology in a storage system for the first time. The storage system consists of 24 used battery modules from old KIA Soul EVs and has an energy capacity of 72 kWh. Together with the project partners from Encore, a corporate start-up from DB Bahnbau Gruppe Gmbh, inno2grid, and Dellcon, the project was realised at the Euref Campus and has been on public display ever since.

“We are delighted to show our product in a real environment outside the laboratory. With the certifications for our product now completed, we are starting series production and enabling as many companies as possible to participate in the energy transition,” says Co-Founder and Co-CEO Dr. Nam Truong.

The storage system is another milestone after winning the ees AWARD 2022 at The Smarter E Europe in Munich. STABL Energy and its partners plan further projects for various customers in the coming years. In addition to rail-related applications, such as buffering charging stations at railroad stations, projects are also being planned with commercial and industrial companies to optimise their electricity consumption or provide an emergency power supply. “In this way, we are extending the life cycles of car batteries and want as many companies as possible to participate in the energy transition,” says Truong.

More information about the project can be found in the press releases from Deutsche Bahn and KIA Europe.