Daimler enters stationary energy storage market with ACCUmotive battery systems; 500 kWh unit already on line for grid stabilization
29 May 2015
Daimler is entering the commercial and residential stationary energy storage system (ESS) market with its wholly-owned subsidiary Deutsche ACCUmotive. The announcement comes four weeks after Tesla Motors announced its own entry into the ESS market with the home PowerWall Li-ion battery system (earlier post), although Daimler has been considering the move for several years.
Daimler’s first industrial-scale lithium-ion unit is already on the grid and is being operated by the partner companies The Mobility House AG and GETEC Energie AG. The 96-module ESS currently has a total capacity of more than 500 kWh; it will be increased step-by-step to 3000 kWh by the partners in the coming weeks. Daimler AG is planning to collaborate with EnBW AG for distribution to customers in Germany. Daimler is also aiming to enter into cooperation with other sales and distribution partners both in Germany and at international level.
The battery modules with an energy capacity of 2.5 kWh (residential) and 5.9 kWh (industrial) are produced by Deutsche ACCUmotive in Kamenz, Saxony. For use in the residential or private sector, up to eight battery modules can be combined to produce an energy storage plant with a capacity of 20 kWh. The systems are fully scalable to requirements for commercial and industrial use. Initial residential ESS systems are under trial.
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| ACCumotive industrial ESS module; individual and mounted. Click to enlarge. |
The Mercedes-Benz energy storage plants will be available for ordering as of June, with deliveries scheduled to begin this autumn.
Mercedes-Benz energy storages provide the best confirmation that lithium-ion batteries Made in Germany have a viable future. With our comprehensive battery expertise at Deutsche ACCUmotive we are accelerating the transition to sustainable energy generation both on the road and in the field of power supply for companies and private households. The technology that has proven its worth over millions of kilometers covered in the most adverse conditions, such as extreme heat and cold, also offers the best credentials for stationary use. We have been gathering initial experience in this field since 2012.
—Harald Kröger, Head of Development Electrics/Electronics & E-Drive Mercedes-Benz Cars
Established in 2009, Deutsche ACCUmotive GmbH und Co. KG develops, produces and markets Li-ion traction batteries for Mercedes-Benz and smart hybrid and electric vehicles. Deutsche ACCUmotive’s entry into the ESS market offers the company fresh opportunities for growth.
Daimler’s first industrial-scale storage unit on the German power grid is being operated by The Mobility House and GETEC through the joint venture Coulomb and is marketed on the German energy exchange. Coulomb is deploying the energy storage plant from Kamenz, Saxony for the purposes of grid stabilization and to smooth load peaks; these are tasks usually performed by coal-fired and nuclear power stations.
The business model developed by Daimler Business Innovation also includes operation in the SME segment—at supermarkets, for example. Here too, the stationary energy storage plants can buffer load peaks on hot days.
Deutsche ACCUmotive production operations are based in Kamenz, Saxony. The Daimler subsidiary employs a workforce of over 250 in Kamenz are currently undergoing expansion, with the workforce set to be almost doubled by 2016. Daimler AG will be investing around €100 million (US$110 million) in Deutsche ACCUmotive in the coming years. On completion of a third production shop this year, the company will have almost 20,000 m² of production and logistics space in Kamenz—a fourfold increase since production started up in 2011. Deutsche ACCUmotive has delivered more than 60,000 lithium-ion batteries to date.
The company is expecting rising production figures for battery systems for automotive applications and in the new business segment of stationary battery storage devices.
So Daimler does a 20,000 square meters, 110 million USD battery factory and
Tesla/Panasonic makes a 1,000,000 square meters, 5,000 million USD 50Gwh battery factory.
Tesla and Panasonic are changing the world economy with their 50Gwh factories. 200 of those could make enough batteries for 100 million long-range 100kwh BEVs per year and when that happens we do not need any oil production for anything on wheels. Daimlers factory changes nothing it is (1/50 of Tesla's factory) and I am certain they can't sell their industrial battery packs for as little as 250 USD per kwh as Tesla can because of that 50GWh factory.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 29 May 2015 at 11:30 AM
Yes...but this firm has already produced 60,000 batteries and has expanded 4 times since 2011 with more expansions to come.
By the time Tesla's giga-factory becomes operational, this smaller progressive factory will have built over 150,000 units?
Secondly, a few very large Chinese battery factories will soon start producing competitive units.
Posted by: HarveyD | 29 May 2015 at 12:57 PM
Grid stabilization with lithium batteries makes sense, providing power for a city when wind and sun are not available does not make as much sense.
Posted by: SJC | 30 May 2015 at 07:11 AM
Tesla's GF is planned to reach an eventual 35GWh, not 50GWh.
The balance is to remain sourced from Japan.
Posted by: Davemart | 30 May 2015 at 07:52 AM
Henrik obviously doesn't know where the plastic components, bearing grease, and other major parts of "anything on wheels" comes from. The very device he's likely posting this from is largely made of petroleum, in fact. Most people are clueless about what most of our oil is actually used for.
Posted by: MacAaron | 30 May 2015 at 07:36 PM
McAron you are clueless about the volume it takes to make plastic parts for a car. Donate a year's worth of your garden garbage and you have enough biomass to make the plastic components for one car give or take. Petroleum is primarily used for fuel production. If you do not need it for fuel production we have enough biomass to make plastics, asphalts, etc. Moreover, in most cases it is easy to substitute petroleum based products like plastics with other matirials such as wood or aluminium. The petroleum industry is not needed when Musk and others have replaced it with better and non-poluting alternatives.
It will take time. We need a lot of demand for electric cars and battery power systems for the grid. That demand will explode with the coming of fully self-driving cars and inexpensive solar panels. We will get that in about 5 to 10 years and hereafter these 50Gwh factories will start to pop up everywhere on the planet. In about 2050 we will have about 200 of those factories globally and the oil industry will be in free fall as no new gas or diesel engines will be needed or allowed for vehicle production of any kind.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 31 May 2015 at 02:14 AM
Fossil fuels are a lot like junk food and Dollar Stores. People will continue to buy them as long as they are cheaper or percieved to be cheaper.
One way to even the playing field is with targeted GHG and Health taxes.
Posted by: HarveyD | 31 May 2015 at 08:55 AM
And the cost of protecting the oil shipping lanes, not to mention oil wars.
Posted by: JMartin | 31 May 2015 at 12:34 PM
There was a study done on "externalities" of fossil fuels as part of the societal subsidy cost, it was extensive.
Posted by: SJC | 02 June 2015 at 07:36 AM
Yes...about $5.3T/year.
Posted by: HarveyD | 02 June 2015 at 08:49 AM
"Evonik Litarion was formerly part of Li-Tec, a joint venture between Evonik and the carmaker Daimler. Some have speculated that Electrovaya was able to pick up the Litarion business on very favorable terms after Daimler decided to withdraw from the battery market."
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/electrovaya-on-a-roll-after-buying-evonik
Posted by: SJC | 02 June 2015 at 11:45 AM
That such a major automobile manufacturer as Daimler Benz is investing so heavily in Lithium-ion battery production, would appear to suggest that they have read 'The Writing on the Wall' as the saying goes. However, the report elsewhere on this site that they are also investing over half a billion USD in their Berlin Engine plant, makes this look more like hedging their bets. I guess that when we see Detroit doing likewise with batteries, then we can start to breath more freely.
Posted by: Peterww | 05 June 2015 at 03:19 AM