Summary

Connected Energy has developed commercially viable energy storage systems to be used by various businesses utilizing low-cost second life electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The company is creating a circular supply chain for EV batteries. The company has developed a battery-agnostic control platform, which (in collaboration with the EV original equipment manufacturers) can be used to control any EV battery. The company’s E-STOR solution stores energy when the sun is shining so the energy can be used later, directly reducing the amount of energy its customers pull from the grid, in turn reducing their carbon footprint and energy bills. Energy storage can help buffer peak loads so that, if an organization is struggling with capacity issues, it can manage demand. Similarly, customers can sell energy back to the National Grid (UK) when demand is highest, generating additional revenue at the same time. As the National Grid transitions towards using more renewable power, the challenge is that electricity won’t always be generated as and when we need it. Solar power is only available during the day and wind can be strongest in the middle of the night, so energy storage will become vital. (Source) End users benefit from reduced energy costs, new or increased revenue streams, access to greater electricity capacity and improved resilience of supply. The company is also developing new business models for second life battery-based systems, and is building a project pipeline to capitalize on the ramp-up of battery availability. (Source) With the help of subcontracted assemblers, the company collates the batteries into blocks or modules made up of one type of battery with the same shape, size and cooling needs, and aggregates blocks into battery energy storage units

Story

Founder Matthew Lumsden established the company in 2010 following his work in a number of energy and transport consultancies. Lumsden also worked at Lotus and had a background in renewables, where it was began to become clear that there were going to be a surplus of EV batteries in the future. The company obtained 3.5 million GBP from the UK government, produced a prototype and have since been selling their commercial solutions. (Source)

Pic Credit: Renault