WMG, at the University of Warwick has joined a £1.3 million project with Connected Energy, a pioneer in site-integrated energy storage solutions, Jaguar Land Rover, WMG, and Videre Global to establish key components of a world leading second life battery value chain. The project is co-funded by an Innovate UK grant, awarded in October.

Connected Energy is based in Newcastle upon Tyne with a technical centre near Norwich. Its British designed E-STOR energy storage technology will be adapted to integrate recycled Jaguar Land Rover batteries, with other work to be undertaken by WMG on the use of varied second life battery modules. This innovative approach will further increase Connected Energy's knowledge base and performance of their E-STOR systems.

Reuse of electric vehicle batteries is compelling circular economy innovation. Second life enables greater exploitation of the carbon and energy embedded in the manufacturing of the batteries, adding to the sustainability credentials of electric vehicles as well as the electricity system. Using second life batteries also reduces system costs - making energy storage systems financially viable for a wider range of end users.

WMG at the University of Warwick is the academic research partner to the project. It is a department of the University of Warwick, and has a considerable reputation for energy storage research.

Dr James Marco at WMG said:

“WMG are very excited to extend their expertise in “first-life” battery system design, control and manufacture towards the realisation of “2^nd-life” battery solutions that will keep the battery in useful service for longer and mitigate, in part, the need to recycle batteries in the medium term. WMG will focus on the creation of innovative battery management software that will facilitate the active management of used vehicle batteries, within a grid storage solution. Outside of the UK, the ability to effectively manage an ad-hoc collection of battery technologies in a holistic manner is particularly pertinent to the deployment of localised energy storage solutions within developing countries.”

Matthew Lumsden of Connected Energy said:

“Connected Energy is extremely proud to be working as part of this consortium to explore how we can extend the value chain of second life batteries in the future. Our status as world leaders in the field of utilising second life electric vehicle batteries is enhanced with the involvement of WMG. With the expertise of Videre Global, exploring developing world applications further bolsters the sustainability credentials of our E-STOR system.”

Ryan Fisher, Jaguar Land Rover’s project lead said:

“From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will have the option of electrification. This project explores how automotive batteries can be given a second life in energy storage solutions to support wider industry needs.”

With the support of Videre Global the consortium aims to assess the viability of developing world applications, offering lower cost and high reliability second life battery storage systems. Videre Global is a specialist in smart grid systems and energy solutions in the developing world.

Craig Morgan, MD of Videre Global said:

“This project is vital as part of our research into understanding the best ways to support rapidly developing micro-grid markets to provide access to energy in some of the world’s poorest communities. This project will also help us to understand and plan for the sustainable provision of electric vehicle charging points in remote places together with a responsible approach to the end-of-life recycling, reclamation and safe disposal of EV batteries in the future,” said Craig Morgan, MD of the Newcastle based company, currently operating across a number of territories in sub-Saharan Africa”

Notes to editors:

About Connected Energy: Connected Energy is an engineering led innovator in energy storage. Its technologies are rapidly changing the way intensive energy users can access the benefits of low-cost, on-site solutions. Connected Energy supplies E-STOR - the world’s only commercially available stationary energy storage system that uses electric vehicle battery packs after they have completed their useful lives on-board vehicles. The system is modular and scalable as well as straight forward to install and operate. E-STOR enables energy intensive clients to flexibly control and reduce their energy costs, and develop new revenue streams by providing balancing services to National Grid - regarded as critical for the UK power system to provide a secure, sustainable and affordable energy future.
The company provides a range of solutions from system feasibility assessments and system design, through to standard and bespoke system supply, equipment installation, maintenance and operation. A team of specialists provide end-to-end expert support to help clients realise value: storing excess energy to release it when needed; drawing on stored energy to optimise energy strategies; using the stored energy at times of peak demand or when tariffs are high.

Connected Energy, operating in the UK and Europe, is wholly owned by Future Transport Systems Limited a UK systems integrator and developer of e-mobility and energy storage hardware and software.
www.c-e-int.com

About Jaguar Land Rover: Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques.

We employ almost 42,000 people globally and support around 240,000 more through our dealerships, suppliers and local businesses. Manufacturing is centred in the UK, with additional plants in China, Brazil, India and Slovakia.

At Jaguar Land Rover, we are driven by a desire to deliver class-leading vehicles, which will provide experiences our customers will love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe. In 2016 Jaguar Land Rover sold more than 583,000 vehicles in 136 countries, with more than 80 per cent of our vehicles produced in the UK being sold abroad.
Our innovation is continuous: we will spend more than £4 billion in the coming year on new product creation and capital expenditure.
From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be electrified, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer ultra-clean petrol and diesel engines.

About WMG: WMG is a world leading research and education group and an academic department of the University of Warwick, established by Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya in 1980 in order to reinvigorate UK manufacturing through the application of cutting edge research and effective knowledge transfer.
WMG has pioneered an international model for working with industry, commerce and public sectors and holds a unique position between academia and industry. The Group’s strength is to provide companies with the opportunity to gain a competitive edge by understanding a company’s strategy and working in partnership with them to create, through multidisciplinary research, ground-breaking products, processes and services.

Every year WMG provides education and training to schoolchildren through to senior executives. There is a growing part-time undergraduate programme for apprentices, as well as full-time undergraduates. The postgraduate programmes have over 2,000 students, in the UK and through centres in China, India, Thailand, South Africa and Malaysia.

About Videre Global: Videre Global specialises in creating renewable energy and lighting solutions. Based in the North East of England our micro-grid solutions are radically challenging the way the world accesses energy.
Currently operating in a range of territories in sub-Saharan Africa including: South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. The company focuses on commercially viable energy solutions to remote off-grid communities, providing access to energy with solutions that support sufficient productive power to have a major economic impact on the community assisting the development of sustainable agriculture and enable improved healthcare and education opportunities. www.videreglobal.com

21 November 2017

Further information contact:

Luke Walton, International Press Manager

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+44 (0) 2476 150 868

L dot Walton dot 1 at warwick dot ac dot uk

For connected Energy please contact:

Matthew Lumsden - CEO
Connected Energy
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E: matthew dot lumsden at c-e-int dot com
or

Mel Barry & Joanna Watchman
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