Climate control and smart design promote life of second-life EV batteries
Brussels cleantech start-up Octave, which gives batteries from electric cars (EVs) a second life in stationary energy storage systems, chooses cabinets from Rittal, a world player in enclosure technology and IT infrastructure. The VX and Toptec enclosures have enormous load capacity, can be placed indoors or outdoors, respectively, and promote battery life thanks to built-in ventilation and HVAC units. In addition, Rittal is a reliable supplier for the scale-up that has ambitious growth plans. Assembly of the units is done by P&V Panels of Heusden-Zolder.
Octave specializes in the development of battery storage systems, mainly for SMEs and industrial players. For this purpose, the Brussels-based cleantech start-up reuses lithium-ion batteries from electric mobility, which are not retained for further use in an electric car, but are still suitable for stationary energy storage. Octave is thus taking a pioneering role in the market. With this solution, it aims to respond to the growing demand for energy storage while reducing the waste mountain of batteries from electric vehicles.
"The demand for energy storage is only increasing," notes Jonas Engels, CTO and co-founder of Octave. "At the same time, the proportion of used car batteries is growing exponentially, as these batteries may soon no longer be used when their charging capacity becomes too low. Our solution gives those batteries a second life after all. Companies can thus utilize their excess energy generated by solar panels or wind turbines during the day or at night and smooth out their peak consumption, significantly lowering energy bills. In addition, Octave batteries can also be used in part to help balance the Belgian electricity grid, for which there are interesting compensations."
As enclosures for the battery units, Octave chose Rittal's VX and Toptec enclosures. With both versions, Rittal offers a durable and robust solution that can be installed indoors and outdoors, respectively. "The IP 55 powder coating of the cabinets is UV-resistant, while the intelligent double-walled design creates a chimney effect that reduces the impact of solar radiation and dissipates heat from the batteries," testifies Matthieu Lauwers, business unit manager Energy & Power at Rittal. "The Toptec cabinet has an inclined roof plate that also provides protection from the sun and also repels moisture and precipitation. The cabinet is equipped with our Blue e+ cooling module. This accessory is remotely controllable and keeps the temperature inside under constant control regardless of weather conditions. In the VX cabinet, a ventilation module cools the batteries, which is necessary, for example, in a hot production hall or technical room. All these functionalities play into Octave's sustainability vision, as they ensure that the batteries can provide energy for at least ten years longer, wherever the cabinets are located."
In addition to climate control, the stability and load-bearing capacity of the Toptec cabinet are also decisive for the long service life of the battery units.
"The mechanical strength of the cabinet and the internal structure is very important," says Louise Van Isterdael, Business Development Manager at Octave. "A battery ring of 13 modules weighs more than 500kg. Rittal's cabinet accommodates this with a maximum load capacity of up to 1.8 tons. The batteries are placed vertically in modular slots, which greatly facilitates maintenance. Our units come standard with a 10-year capacity guarantee, but thanks to our maintenance model and operational service, the system can continue to be used even after this period."
A battery unit was placed in the depot of Futech of Tessenderlo, which also markets Octave's solution itself. A specialist in solar panels, charging infrastructure and battery systems, Futech has been resolutely pulling the innovation cart in the renewable energy market since its inception.
"For battery storage systems, we were looking for a suitable partner," testifies Niels Fabry, B2B Business Developer at Futech. "Octave's philosophy around battery reuse fits perfectly with Futech's sustainability vision and ecosystem. Octave is very flexible and, unlike larger suppliers, always thinks along with us and our customers about a customized solution. Finally, Octave is also a Belgian player, we speak the same language. That local anchoring is also very important for Futech."
"Companies are moving away from 'long distance' supply companies. Local production and control, as offered by Octave, have become the reliable norm. Rittal's niche-specific solutions meet all contemporary requirements for applications within energy storage, telecom and telematics. We are therefore pleased that we can contribute to Octave's innovative solution and support them as a supplier in their ambitious growth plans," stated Matthieu Lauwers.
"Our ambition is to offer a high quality and secure system. Rittal is a renowned global player, known for its quality. Moreover, at Octave we make a priority of a local and sustainable value chain, with our critical components such as battery modules and inverters invariably coming from Europe. At Rittal in Lokeren we get all the necessary support and find a lot of in-house expertise, while P&V Panels as a Belgian player guarantees the perfect assembly of our battery units," Louise Van Isterdael concludes.
On Tuesday, December 5, Rittal in Lokeren is organizing a new energy storage event. Several speakers, including Louise Van Isterdael of Octave, will explain the latest trends and developments in the field of energy storage that day. You can still register here.
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