Speed up investment in the energy transition

Leaders from Altelium and volytica diagnostics issued the following statement ahead of the Munich Electrical Energy Storage Show.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are exactly the sort of technology which can support deep reductions in emissions, through their ability to store clean energy. Making BESS out of second life vehicle batteries rather than new batteries is a sensible way to build them, and dramatically deepens the potential carbon savings that can be made. A future where old vehicle batteries help to charge new ones with clean energy is within reach.

“The market is growing, but for investors to come on board at speed, there needs to be greater understanding and security in using batteries, be it in first or second life applications, and this can only be achieved with universal standards, a commitment to open learning and battery quality transparency for all stakeholders. The whole beautiful circle won’t get turning if we don’t start learning,” says Claudius Jehle, CEO of German battery monitoring and management company, volytica diagnostics.

Jehle’s company uses battery data to determine the long-term health of batteries, optimise the total cost of ownership and their suitability for re-use – information which is an essential component of modern data-driven insurance for electric batteries and energy storage systems built from them.

“Insurance and specifically warranties give investors the confidence they need to back new technology, which is why the ability to understand battery data is such a crucial instrument of decarbonisation,” he explains.

Altelium Chairman Charley Grimston, says: “This is all about building confidence and understanding relating to lithium-ion batteries.  We understand their chemistry and how to read the telematics from them which enables us to offer customised battery insurance, but there needs to be much better understanding and sharing across the industry to speed up the switch to secure, clean energy and transport systems.”

The two companies are calling on the industry to:

• develop universal data standards, interfaces and protocols. Digitalisation will drive battery adoption but without barrier-free access to data and the vital signs it provides, the speed of investment will be inhibited;
• facilitate continuous safety improvements through open communication about incidents involving batteries. Safety incidents spook investors, and rumours rather than facts spread fear. The transparent sharing of findings, improvements and lessons has brought many innovations to maturity such as aviation and nuclear power – a process that needs acceleration in the battery market.

“On the rare occasion when things go wrong, there needs to be open and honest access to information about what happened, for the good of all”, says Jehle.

Charley Grimston adds: “The need to switch to secure and independent clean energy has never been greater. Much of the hesitancy in investing in battery energy storage comes through fear of the unknown and the more we can share knowledge and understanding, the faster this clean, new technology will be adopted.”