Unlocking the potential of
Second Life EV Batteries
B2U Storage Solutions* uses its patented EPS technology to deploy EV battery packs in large-scale grid-connected energy storage systems without incurring repurposing costs.
* B2U: Battery 2nd Use
The B2U Difference
B2U’s unique technology, capabilities, people and approach to repurposing EV batteries unlocks the potential of second life for EV batteries in large-scale energy storage systems. B2U mitigates the risks inherent in repurposing, optimizing the battery’s full potential within a closed loop approach that is safe and secure, where each battery is tracked and monitored continuously during second life usage before being recycled when repurposing is completed. The five elements of B2U’s differentiated approach are described below.
1
The EPS Cabinet System
B2U’s EPS cabinet utilizes EV battery packs in “plug and play” fashion without incurring repurposing costs. Cabinets are assembled and tested before being shipped directly to an ESS(Energy Storage System) project site where the cabinets can be rapidly installed and integrated into a functional energy storage system.
2
EPS Software Architecture: The Matrix
The EPS system is based on a matrix configuration of the batteries in series and parallel strings. The EPS Cabinet Controller enables “plug and play” performance, achieving effective yields from strings of second life batteries with significant capacity variance. The EPS software platform provides continuous management and optimization necessary to enable packs with different capacities to charge and discharge efficiently. In B2U’s system, weaker batteries don’t restrict the performance of stronger batteries.
With real time monitoring, the EPS cabinet controller ensures batteries operate within guardrail settings. The controller manages climate control and hazard detection in each cabinet.
3
Energy Management System
B2U’s Energy Management System (EMS) manages the many cabinets that are integrated with power electronics at each ESS site. The EMS processes significant volumes of data supporting real-time management of what can be thousands of batteries per site. This information is incorporated into real-time, plant-level dashboards and management systems.
Real-time overview of system operations with built-in management controls.
Insight from system level down to cabinet level status grouped by DC-DC Converter.
Solid square in each cabinet represents an EV battery; green indicates the battery is connected; red indicates a fault.
Alerts built into system notify users of faults exceeding settings; vast majority of faults are cleared by EMS software automatically.
4
Automated System for Market Operations
B2U’s EPS Technology at Grid Scale
Delivering Power to the CAISO Power Market
B2U’s Proprietary System for Wholesale Market Operations automates participation in wholesale power markets such as the CAISO power market in California.
5
People & Capabilities
From embedded systems and controls design to power plant development and automated participation in wholesale power markets, the team at B2U delivers a state-of-the-art turnkey platform solution to efficiently unlock the value of second life EV batteries. B2U’s broad set of skills enabled the in-house development of one of our fundamental differentiators, the patented EV Pack Storage (EPS) system.
Projects
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SEPV Sierra
In operation since 2020, the SEPV Sierra project in Lancaster, California is a 28 MWh / 3.0 MW hybrid energy storage system that charges from on-site solar and from the grid. Over 1,300 repurposed EV batteries are used in this energy storage system. The hybrid solar-plus-storage project provides power and grid services to the CAISO wholesale market.
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SEPV Cuyama
Commissioned at the end of 2023, the SEPV Cuyama project in Santa Barbara County, California is a 12.5 MWh /1.5 MW hybrid energy storage system that charges from on-site solar and from the grid. 580 EV battery packs are deployed in this energy storage system. The project sells power and grid services into the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) wholesale market.
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One Ten Partners
B2U is converting this 2.7 MW PV project into a hybrid facility in 2024. The project is located in Palmdale, California and was developed and commissioned in 2017 by B2U’s predecessor company, Solar Electric Solutions. Once the conversion is complete, the hybrid system will have 10 MWh or storage capacity.