Telford-based energy storage and battery company AceOn has won £130,000 under the Sustainable Innovation Fund to trial new technology which will make use of second-hand batteries from electric buses. The pilot project will use a 120kW/h second life lithium-ion battery system.
AceOn has teamed with Brill Power and Cranfield University for the project, which has won nearly £350,000 of funding in total. It plans to use its expertise in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries to upcycle eight used bus batteries, which will then be used to store solar power generated at the university. It is believed to be the first project of its kind.
“Upcycling lithium-ion batteries is challenging because they are so easy to damage when they are taken apart,” says AceOn Founder Mark Thompson. “This project is of national significance and shows again how AceOn is at the forefront of renewable energy technology.”
Mr Thompson adds that there can be “large differences in the performance of old battery cells” with the strength of conventional battery systems dependent on their weakest cells. In addition, he points to challenges surrounding the life-expectancy of recycled batteries.
“We have worked to overcome all these difficulties, build the know-how and expertise to remanufacture old batteries, and lay the foundations for an effective supply chain,” he says. “As a result we can use a novel battery management system developed by Brill and our own technology to produce an upcycled battery which will have maximal lifetime, performance and safety.”
With the upcycled batteries, Cranfield University plans to store the power it generates from solar panels for use when it is needed, reducing its carbon footprint. Mr Thompson believes the technology could play a huge part in combatting climate change, developing effective renewable energy supplies.
“This funding is a massive step forward for us in developing a commercially-viable way of bringing old batteries back into real use. We are delighted to have won it and look forward to a successful outcome.”
Sustainable Innovation Fund
The Sustainable Innovation Fund is delivered through Innovate UK and forms part of a £1.25bn investment package announced by the Chancellor in April.
Executive Chair at Innovate UK Dr Ian Campbell says: “Yet again we see the exciting range of business innovation taking place across the United Kingdom, despite these difficult times.
“Every initiative we’ve supported here represents an important step forward in sustainable economic development, but also one step nearer dreams becoming reality for ambitious hard-working company owners and their staff.”
