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In each tech transition, there are progressive leaders who convey the primary merchandise and tasks to market. Whereas these are innovative after they come out, after a number of years, they’re clearly outdated. The expansion and evolution of grid-scale batteries has gotten to the purpose the place it’s now time to say goodbye to early, first-gen battery storage tasks. Fortunately, Redwood Supplies, based by Tesla co-founder and longtime CTO JB Straubel, is already right here to assist.

JB Straubel at Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) grid-scale battery venture. Picture courtesy of Redwood Supplies.

Hawaiʻi has been an early chief in photo voltaic vitality and vitality storage deployment. Hawaiʻi’s Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) now has a 4.6 MWh battery storage system that’s prepared for decommissioning, and KIUC has acquired the assistance of Redwood Supplies for that course of in addition to recycling of these batteries.

“KIUC stands aside in its method to vitality. Based in 2002, they’ve been pivotal in guiding Hawaii’s shift to renewables, usually reaching 100% renewable energy technology on sunlit days,” Redwood writes.

“The Anahola Photo voltaic initiative stands as a testomony to this dedication. Greater than only a utility-scale photo voltaic enterprise, it represented KIUC’s foresight into the subsequent period of vitality and stationary storage. As this website reaches its end-of-life, Redwood is managing its sustainable and accountable decommissioning, transport, and recycling at our Northern Nevada facility.”

Frankly, I discover it stunning that we’re already at this stage! It seems like solely yesterday that we began overlaying giant battery vitality storage tasks. And that’s why individuals like JB Straubel are so essential to this world. The EV revolution was barely getting rolling when he left Tesla with the intention to deal with Redwood Supplies and battery recycling. On the time, it appeared fairly early for somebody so worthwhile to Tesla and the EV transition to leap into this subject. Now, although, tasks like this — in addition to recycling of EV batteries — are the frontier of the cleantech trade, and we’d like clever, sensible, sustainably minded individuals like Straubel main the way in which.

“As we take into consideration long-term battery circularity, stationary storage decommissioning and recycling are an integral a part of our enterprise. Our latest partnership with Southern Firm and EPRI in Georgia additionally demonstrates our ongoing work on this rising sector. With every venture, we’re clearing the trail for newer extra environment friendly techniques and guaranteeing assets are managed responsibly and successfully all through their lifecycle,” Redwood provides.

It is probably not as horny as Tesla Insane Mode, however it’s extraordinarily essential. A giant applause is due for each Redwood and KIUC for taking over the management mantle. I’m clapping my palms proper now*. Take part and do the identical.

*Effectively, not actually.