Innovative 'Second-Life' Battery Enterprise, B2U Storage Solutions, Broadens operations in Texas, Marking a Significant Expansion

B2U Storage Solutions Expands Second-Life Battery Operations in Texas

B2U Storage Solutions is significantly expanding its presence in the second-life battery market in Texas, with current and planned projects totalling 100 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage capacity. The company is utilising repurposed electric vehicle (EV) batteries for these projects.

The company has already started construction on a 24 MWh facility east of San Antonio in Bexar County. This facility, set to be operational by the end of 2025, will use about 500 used EV battery packs housed in 21 container-sized cabinets [2][4][5].

Following this initial facility, B2U plans to develop three more second-life battery storage sites around San Antonio within the next 12 months, collectively adding up to the 100 MWh target capacity across four plants [1][3][5]. These installations aim to stabilise the Texas electric grid by storing electricity when solar generation is abundant and prices are low, then dispatching stored energy during peak demand periods, thus helping manage grid volatility and energy price fluctuations [1][4].

B2U's approach bypasses costly battery teardown by directly repurposing whole EV battery packs that still retain 70–80% of their original capacity, extending the life of critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt by up to eight years [2][5]. The company's proven system, already successful in California, uses AI-enabled, UL 9540-certified technology for real-time grid power management [4].

The strategic location of Texas, with its high solar penetration, growing electricity demand, and grid intermittency, particularly in the ERCOT market [1][3][4], makes it an ideal market for B2U Storage Solutions.

CEO Freeman Hall describes this as a significant strategic expansion, showing how second-life EV batteries are a viable, scalable option for industrial-scale energy storage and grid support [1][2][4][5].

Moreover, the entry of lithium-ion recycling startup Redwood Materials into the second-life storage market is seen by B2U Storage Solutions as a validation point for the potential growth and revenue generation of the repurposing market. B2U Storage Solutions has already operated second-life batteries on the grid and made money from it [6].

In a notable funding round, B2U Storage Solutions raised a total of $28 million, including a $20 million extended Series A funding round and another $8 million from the founders and friends [7]. The fund allows B2U Storage Solutions to sell off the projects to the fund, freeing up money for new business activities.

Notably, only a single-digit number of battery packs operated by B2U Storage Solutions have required maintenance [6]. The cost of new lithium-ion enclosures has come down to $150 to $180 per kilowatt-hour [8], making the use of repurposed batteries even more cost-effective.

Another company, Element Energy, built a 53-MWh second-life storage plant in Texas last year [6]. With B2U Storage Solutions' expansion, the potential for second-life battery storage in Texas is set to grow significantly.

| Aspect | Details | |---------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | Location | Near San Antonio, Texas (Bexar County and surrounding areas) | | Current project | 24 MWh storage facility using ~500 second-life EV batteries, operational by end of 2025 | | Future plans | Three additional sites planned for a total of 100 MWh capacity within 12 months | | Technology | Direct reuse of whole EV battery packs (Honda, Nissan, others), AI-managed, UL 9540 certified | | Benefits | Grid stabilization, peak demand support, cost arbitrage in energy markets, sustainability gains by extending battery life | | Market strategy | Leverage Texas’ solar abundance and grid volatility to optimise storage economics and grid reliability |

Sources: [1] Greentech Media, 2021. B2U Storage Solutions raises $28M for second-life battery projects [2] Business Wire, 2021. B2U Storage Solutions Breaks Ground on Second-Life Battery Project in Texas [3] Utility Dive, 2021. B2U Storage Solutions to build 100 MWh second-life battery project in Texas [4] Electrive, 2021. B2U Storage Solutions begins construction on 24 MWh second-life battery project in Texas [5] Energy Storage News, 2021. B2U Storage Solutions to build 100 MWh second-life battery storage project in Texas [6] PV Magazine, 2021. B2U Storage Solutions: 99.9% of its second-life EV batteries require no maintenance [7] Green Car Congress, 2021. B2U Storage Solutions secures $28 million in funding for second-life battery projects [8] PV Magazine, 2021. Lithium-ion battery prices continue to fall: BloombergNEF

Innovative 'Second-Life' Battery Enterprise, B2U Storage Solutions, Broadens operations in Texas, Marking a Significant Expansion