Latest news with #microgrid
Forbes
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
GM Supplying Redwood Materials With Batteries For Data Center, Energy Grid Packs
A modular battery microgrid powers Redwood Materials' Nevada campus. Redwood Materials General Motors, which has poured billions of dollars into producing electric vehicle batteries at U.S. plants, is partnering with Redwood Materials to use some of its cells for stationary energy storage systems for the power grid as well as AI data centers. The Detroit-based automaker, which already supplies battery scrap materials to Redwood for recycling, plans to supply both new and used U.S.-made battery cells that Redwood will package as large stationary packs, the companies said. The move comes after Reno-based Redwood, founded by Tesla cofounder and current board member JB Straubel, last month created a new unit to supply energy storage packs called Redwood Energy. 'The market for grid-scale batteries and backup power isn't just expanding, it's becoming essential infrastructure,' said Kurt Kelty, GM's battery chief. 'Electricity demand is climbing and it's only going to accelerate.' Finding additional uses for battery cells beyond EVs can help GM maximize its investment in R&D and production of that technology as Trump Administration policies, distilled in the just-enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act, darken the outlook for not only EV sales but large-scale wind and solar projects. Pursuing new applications for cleaner, less-polluting energy technology is exactly what many investors are encouraging companies to do. 'Someone said, 'climate tech has gone from green to khaki,' because it's not just about green tech anymore. It's all about domestic security and domestic supply chains,' Nicole LeBlanc, a partner at Toyota's Woven Capital venture fund, recently told Forbes . 'From an investment perspective, that mitigates some uncertainties around the climate element in terms of the scaling of these technologies. Because now they have a second market that is accelerating and has more money in it.' Data centers are a particularly fast-growing source of electricity consumption, likely to use 12% of U.S. power generation by 2028, according to the Energy Department. In June, Redwood said it supplied a 63 megawatt-hour battery microgrid for use by Crusoe, an AI infrastructure company, that's operating at its Nevada headquarters. That installation includes used GM batteries. GM already makes lithium-ion batteries for its electric models and this week announced plans to also make lower-cost lithium-iron phosphate cells at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant. The company also recently announced plans to begin producing lithium-manganese-rich cells, a new cell chemistry expected to shave at least $6,000 off the cost of electric truck battery packs. GM is upgrading its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant to make lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells. General Motors GM and Redwood declined to provide financial details of the partnership, but will share more information later this year, they said in a statement. Redwood, which Straubel cofounded in 2019, recycles used lithium-ion cells to recover valuable raw materials and also makes components for new batteries. The closely held company estimates it's processing more than 20 gigawatt-hours of used battery cells–equivalent to 250,000 EVS–annually. Straubel and Kelty worked together at Tesla, building up the EV company's battery operations from its earliest days until 2017, when Kelty departed. Straubel, formerly Tesla's CTO, left the company in 2019 to focus on Redwood. More From Forbes Forbes GM's New Battery Will Cut The Cost Of Its Electric Trucks By Over $6,000 By Alan Ohnsman Forbes Redwood Materials Gears Up To Recycle First Big Wave Of Used EV Batteries By Alan Ohnsman Forbes Redwood Materials' New Specialty: Recycling EV Batteries Damaged By Fire And Hurricanes By Alan Ohnsman
Fox News
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Energy-sucking AI data centers can look here for power instead
Artificial intelligence is expanding quickly, and so is the energy required to run it. Modern AI data centers use much more electricity than traditional cloud servers. In many cases, the existing power grid cannot keep up. One innovative solution is gaining traction: repurposed EV batteries for AI data centers. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Redwood Materials, created by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, is addressing the energy needs of AI through a new venture called Redwood Energy. Instead of sending used electric vehicle batteries straight to recycling, the company gives them a second life. The process begins by collecting and testing old EV battery packs. Many still retain over 50 percent of their original capacity. Once approved, these batteries are rebuilt into modular storage systems that can power AI operations. One example is a 12-megawatt, 63-megawatt-hour microgrid now supporting a 2,000-GPU data center operated by Crusoe in Nevada. This project is considered the largest active deployment of second-life EV batteries. It already operates more affordably than systems built with new batteries. The environmental and financial benefits are significant. By using repurposed EV batteries for AI data centers, companies avoid sending usable materials to landfills. This also cuts down on mining for new raw materials, which helps reduce carbon emissions. Second-life battery systems typically cost less than brand-new lithium-ion options. That makes large-scale energy storage more accessible to AI developers and utilities. Since these batteries are already built and tested, they can be installed more quickly than waiting for new infrastructure. Redwood Energy estimates that over 100,000 electric vehicles will be retired in the United States this year. That adds up to hundreds of gigawatt-hours in potential energy storage. The company already has more than 1 gigawatt-hour of second-life battery capacity in its development pipeline. Its goal is to reach 5 gigawatt-hours next year. Larger energy projects, including 100-megawatt sites, are also planned. Each one is designed to support the increasing power demands of AI data centers using repurposed batteries instead of new supply chains. Repurposed EV batteries for AI data centers are proving to be a smart, sustainable solution for the industry's soaring energy demands. By bridging the gap between battery recovery and recycling, Redwood Energy is helping power the future of AI while reducing waste and emissions. As more EVs retire and AI continues to grow, expect to see even more green-powered data centers on the horizon. Is repurposing EV batteries the missing link in building greener, smarter data centers, or just another temporary fix masking a bigger problem? Let us know by writing to us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Travel Weekly
07-07-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Pittsburgh plans industry's first on-airport SAF refinery
Pittsburgh Airport blazed a new trail in 2021, when it became the largest airport in the world to be fully powered by an on-site, clean energy microgrid. Now, the airport is looking to cement its status as an innovator when it opens its new central terminal in October. The industry's first on-airport, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) refinery is also in the plans. CEO Christina Cassotis said during an interview at the IATA Annual General Meeting in New Delhi last month that she hopes construction on the refinery will begin next year. The microgrid enables Pittsburgh Airport to be energy self-sufficient, a status that looked especially significant this spring, when power grid failures shut down London Heathrow and, in a separate incident, caused widespread flight disruptions at airports in Portugal and Spain. Cassotis said the credibility Pittsburgh has achieved from having the microgrid should help it line up partners and purchase agreements for the SAF facility. She first announced her goal of refining SAF within the airport's 3,000 remaining acres in 2023. But after a deal that was in the works didn't come to fruition last year, the airport has secured an agreement with New Jersey-based clean fuels developer Avina, whose production facility would refine alcohol into SAF using Swedish technology licensed to the Houston-based firm KBR. The refinery would produce 120 million gallons of SAF annually, Cassotis said, 70 million of which could be used at Pittsburgh Airport, with the remainder to be piped off-site and then shipped via rivers to airports in the Northeast, Midwest and Canada. "We're going to get to final investment in the next six months," Cassotis said. "Then it's just a question of when do you stick the shovel in the ground." Inside the new terminal In the meantime, the airport hopes to grab attention with the opening of its tech-forward $1.7 billion central terminal this fall. For example, said airport chief information officer Deepak Nayyar, the airport built its own data platform that will be able to assimilate information from various airport systems to help with cross-departmental decision-making. Using data and AI, Pittsburgh Airport hopes to deploy predictive technology to facilitate tasks as varied as managing parking capacity, advising flyers on when they should leave their home and proactively replacing airport machinery before it breaks. For enhanced security, the new terminal will also have segmented operating networks, which Cassotis said is a rarity in the airport industry. So, for example, if the baggage claim network falls victim to a cyberattack, the airport will be able to localize and fix the problem while other airport functions continue operating. As far as features that everyday airport users will notice, Cassotis pointed to the design's comprehensive focus on accessibility, which accounts not only for those with mobility impairments but for caregivers and the hearing- and vision-impaired. "Everything from signage height and placement to making sure people who are colorblind can distinguish contrast," the CEO said. Flyers will also notice the terminal's overall aesthetic, which architect Luis Vidal described in a 2022 Travel Weekly interview as being like "a pavilion surrounded by natural light, and by wood and by terraces." Large, accessible outdoor spaces will be one of the terminal's most notable characteristics. "It really is beautiful," Cassotis said. "It reflects Pittsburgh very nicely. It almost tells you about a community you don't know about, just through the design itself. And candidly, it makes sense. It's been very thoughtful, and I think it's going to change the way people feel when they travel."
Fast Company
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fast Company
This massive new data center is powered by used EV batteries
Over the last two months, a first-of-a-kind project has taken shape at an industrial site in Nevada: the world's largest microgrid built with used EV batteries, designed to power an adjacent data center. It's the first of a series of microgrids planned by Redwood Materials, the battery recycling company now valued at more than $5 billion. The company is taking in a quickly-growing volume of used EV batteries—tens of thousands over the last year, and perhaps hundreds of thousands over the next 12 months. Most of those batteries still have enough capacity to have a second life before the materials are recycled. And they could help deal with a major energy challenge: how new data centers can come online quickly and cheaply without straining the grid and significantly adding to climate emissions. 'The amount of batteries coming back that have usable life and that are relatively more cost-efficient to deploy has ramped up dramatically in just the last year or two,' says JB Straubel, CEO of Redwood Materials. The company announced its new energy business arm at an event on June 26. Straubel, one of Tesla's cofounders, left the automaker in 2019 to help build a new U.S. supply chain of critical battery materials using the growing pile of battery waste. Last year, the company started commercial production of cathode active material, one key component in batteries, from recycled materials. Its recycling business is already profitable; it generated $200 million in revenue last year. But it also recognized the huge opportunity to put some batteries to work again. How EV batteries can find a second life When a battery is in a car or a truck, 'it's a pretty demanding application,' Straubel says. 'You need a lot of power capability. You really want to charge quickly, usually, so you can go to fast charge stations. And you also need a pretty high percent of your overall initial range that you purchased in the car.' But even when a battery has lost so much capacity that it no longer makes sense for driving, it can still be used to store energy. In that application, charging and discharging can happen slowly. A battery might only have half of its original capacity, but can still reliably support the grid or a microgrid. In some cases, it could be used for years before it's eventually recycled. In the new microgrid, on Redwood's campus near Reno, more than 800 used EV batteries are connected to 20 acres of solar panels. It has enough power to run a new AI data center on the site, built by Crusoe, a company that designs and deploys low-carbon compute infrastructure. The data center operates fully off the grid, without an external backup. 'We still expect [the microgrid] to be very, very reliable,' Straubel says. 'In some cases, it might be more reliable, because we have less failure points.' To make it possible to avoid the grid completely, the team built a relatively large amount of solar power and large battery capacity. In other cases, the company will build microgrids that do have a grid connection, but allow data centers to run on their own renewable energy most of the time. Some projects could also be built with backup from gas generators. But there are advantages to off-grid renewable projects. Why companies want to go off the grid Off-grid projects are faster than other alternatives. Right now, the wait time for a new gas turbine can be as long as seven years. Connecting large new renewable energy projects to the grid also takes years because of long delays in the permitting process. A self-contained microgrid can avoid waiting in the interconnection queue. And if it's fully renewable, like the project from Redwood and Crusoe, it can also avoid the long process to get air quality permits. All that a project needs is simple construction permits. The process to build can also happen quickly. (Crusoe's own data center infrastructure, which uses modular, self-contained small units, is also fast to deploy. The new data center is already running in test mode and will be available for Crusoe's cloud customers to use in the coming weeks.) Because renewable energy is cheap, and Redwood's battery system is also affordable, the microgrids can compete head to head with fossil fuels. 'We're seeing prices now that I think are below what you can do with the gas microgrid,' says Straubel. All of this means that even if a tech company doesn't have sustainability as its first priority when it builds a new data center, the microgrid can still be a compelling choice. 'It seems that in this moment, speed and power availability is the number-one topic,' Straubel says. 'Maybe number two would be overall economics. Number three is sustainability. Not to say that people don't care about that—I feel that most of our customers care quite deeply about it. But there's a lot of pressure for everyone to grow fast and balance all these other constraints while doing it.' The potential for scale Data center providers that want to use solar power need to find land in the right location. But one recent analysis found that there was more than enough available land in the U.S. to support the massive energy demand from new data centers—far more than even high-end projections that say that we may need a staggering 300 gigawatts of new energy by 2030 to cover growth. That analysis looked at the feasibility of microgrids that were 90% renewable and 10% gas-powered. But it mapped out potential sites in detail, and points to areas that could also potentially be used for 100% renewable projects. Redwood is already working on other microgrids for other data centers. And over time, as more used EV batteries become available, they can play a greater role for the grid overall. 'The volumes in the automotive and transportation sector are so much higher than in the grid sector,' Straubel says. 'Over the long term, I believe that EV batteries—trucks, cars, robotaxis, all of it—will have an extremely significant role to play in really all bulk energy storage.' It can help the cost of energy storage come down, which is key to helping renewables fully scale up. 'Renewables are our cheapest source of generation today,' he says. 'And I think that's only going to expand. But they're intermittent. We have to find a cost-efficient way to deliver firm, reliable, renewable energy if we have a hope of scaling it. And to me, that is really the long-term main application.' The extended deadline for Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech Awards is this Friday, June 27, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microgrid Implementation Market to Reach $142.8 Billion by 2035, Growing at 14.5% CAGR--Exclusive Report by Meticulous Research®
Market Growth Driven by Power Grid Resilience Needs, Renewable Energy Integration, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Energy Security Concerns REDDING, Calif., June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled " Microgrid Implementation Market: Size & Forecast by Grid Type (Grid-Connected, Off-Grid, Hybrid), Power Source (Solar PV, Wind Turbines, Fuel Cells, CHP, Diesel, Natural Gas), Connectivity (AC, DC, Hybrid AC/DC) & End User - Global Forecast and Analysis to 2035", the microgrid implementation market is projected to reach $142.8 billion by 2035, up from an estimated $36.8 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 14.5% during the forecast period. The growth of the microgrid implementation market is mainly driven by a convergence of critical energy infrastructure trends. The increasing frequency of power outages and grid failures worldwide has created an urgent need for resilient distributed energy solutions that can maintain operational continuity for critical facilities. Simultaneously, accelerating integration of renewable energy sources and supportive government initiatives are opening unprecedented possibilities for sustainable energy independence, making what was once considered supplementary infrastructure now increasingly essential for energy security. Substantial investments from both established energy management companies and innovative technology firms are accelerating market development, demonstrating strong confidence in the transformative potential of distributed energy systems. The growing adoption of AI and IoT technologies in grid management further amplifies this momentum, with organizations recognizing the critical importance of intelligent energy solutions that can dramatically enhance operational efficiency and system reliability. For more comprehensive insights, download the FREE report sample: Market Drivers and Technology Evolution The microgrid implementation market is experiencing remarkable transformation through increasingly sophisticated integration between traditional grid infrastructure and cutting-edge distributed energy technologies. These innovations are driving rapid advancement in smart grid solutions and renewable energy systems, creating a robust technological foundation that addresses critical challenges in energy resilience and sustainability across diverse industries. "The convergence of renewable energy technologies with intelligent grid management is revolutionizing how organizations approach energy security," said Khushal Bombe, research analyst at Meticulous Research®. "Critical infrastructure operators are witnessing unprecedented opportunities to achieve energy independence while maintaining grid connectivity for optimal operational flexibility." Emerging trends demonstrate a multifaceted approach to market development. Manufacturers are intensely focusing on AI and IoT integration to enhance operational efficiency, developing blockchain-based energy trading platforms for peer-to-peer transactions, and creating comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for grid protection. The industry is witnessing a significant shift towards community and campus microgrids, with particular emphasis on creating versatile energy solutions that can seamlessly operate in both grid-connected and island modes. Growth Opportunities and Market Expansion The market presents significant growth opportunities that extend far beyond traditional power generation paradigms. Electrification of remote areas offers the potential to create comprehensive off-grid solutions, addressing critical energy access challenges in underserved regions. Commercial applications are rapidly expanding beyond basic power supply, exploring specialized domains such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy storage integration, and smart city development. Particularly promising areas include declining costs of renewable energy technologies improving project economics, advancements in energy storage solutions enhancing system capabilities, and the emergence of innovative financing models. The potential for integrated smart grid connectivity and community-scale energy independence represents a significant frontier of market expansion. Get Insightful Data on Regions, Market Segments, Customer Landscape, and Top Companies: Market Challenges and Implementation Barriers Despite the market's immense potential, significant challenges persist. High initial implementation costs continue to delay project deployment across multiple sectors. Technical integration complexities with existing grid infrastructure remain a critical constraint, particularly in establishing seamless grid synchronization and managing interoperability standards across diverse technology platforms. Economic challenges include regulatory barriers and policy uncertainties affecting project financing, current limitations in energy storage technology impacting system efficiency, and complex business model development for sustainable operations. Organizations must also navigate varying international standards, address cybersecurity requirements, and work to gain regulatory approval for innovative distributed energy configurations. "While technological capabilities are advancing rapidly, the industry must address fundamental challenges around standardization and grid integration," noted Uddhav Sable, Research Director at Meticulous Research®. "Success will depend on developing solutions that demonstrate clear economic value while maintaining seamless compatibility with existing energy infrastructure." Segment Analysis and Technology Leadership The Grid-Connected segment is expected to hold the largest market share in 2025, with reliable grid backup capabilities being the dominant advantage due to widespread infrastructure compatibility. However, Hybrid microgrid systems are anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR, offering promising solutions that combine grid-connected and off-grid operational modes while maintaining optimal flexibility for varying energy requirements. Based on power source technology, Solar PV systems are projected to dominate, accounting for the largest market share in 2025. Notably, the Fuel Cells segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR, offering advanced clean power generation capabilities for critical applications requiring continuous operation. Based on end-user applications, Commercial & Industrial facilities will hold the largest market share in 2025, with Healthcare facilities projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 17.9%, highlighting the critical importance of uninterrupted power for life-saving medical operations. Regional Market Leadership and Growth Dynamics North America is expected to hold the largest market share in 2025, accounting for the majority of global market value. This leadership position is mainly attributed to advanced grid infrastructure, progressive energy policies, and high awareness of energy resilience benefits among critical infrastructure operators. However, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by rapid industrialization, increasing power reliability concerns, and extensive investments in renewable energy infrastructure development across China, India, and Australia. Access the complete market analysis: Competitive Landscape and Industry Innovation The global microgrid implementation market features a diverse and dynamic competitive landscape. Established energy management companies are competing alongside specialized microgrid solution providers and emerging technology firms, each pursuing unique approaches to distributed energy system development and intelligent grid integration. Key players operating in the overall microgrid implementation market include Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, ABB Ltd., General Electric, Eaton Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., S&C Electric Company, Power Analytics Corporation, Spirae LLC, Emerson Electric Co., Bloom Energy Corporation, Engie, Tesla Inc., Toshiba Corporation, and Ameresco Inc. among others. About Meticulous Research® We are a trusted research partner for leading businesses worldwide, empowering Fortune 500 organizations and emerging enterprises with market intelligence designed to drive revenue transformation and strategic growth. Our insights reveal future growth opportunities, equipping clients with a competitive edge through a versatile suite of research solutions—including syndicated reports, custom research, and direct analyst engagement. Each year, we conduct over 300 syndicated studies and manage 60+ consulting engagements across eight major sectors and 20+ geographic markets, all to deliver targeted business insights that help our clients lead in a rapidly evolving global market. To find out more, visit or follow us on LinkedIn Contact:Mr. Khushal BombeMeticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd.1267 Willis St, Ste 200 Redding,California, 96001, +1-646-781-8004Europe: +44-203-868-8738APAC: +91 744-7780008Email: sales@ Our Website: with us on LinkedIn: Source: Logo: View original content: SOURCE Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
