Automotive supplier Webasto has implemented a one-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery storage system at its plant in Schierling, southeast Germany. The system utilizes 30 second-life commercial vehicle batteries to store electricity generated by the facility’s solar power system, enhancing its energy sustainability.
The battery storage unit is housed in a container, allowing easy installation and replacement through slide-in mechanisms. Each battery module offers a capacity of approximately 33 kWh, with most sourced from pre-series production. The system is integrated with the plant’s energy management infrastructure via Ethernet, enabling the storage of self-generated solar power. It is also connected to the local power grid, allowing for flexible energy supply or demand when needed.
Webasto plans to expand its storage capacity with four additional containers, each offering 4 MWh of storage. These expansions will occur in stages, depending on energy demand and the availability of used batteries. The Schierling plant, operational since 2019, produces battery systems and roof systems for various automotive clients, with commercial vehicle batteries manufactured since 2020.
Plant manager Christian Gallner highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating, “By utilizing used batteries as second-life batteries, we are extending their life cycle and actively contributing to the circular economy. This is a further step in our strategy of acting in an ecologically and economically sustainable manner.”
