This data center in Nevada runs on solar power and reused EV batteries in groundbreaking project

Forward-looking: Growing demand for AI-driven data centers is straining the energy grid. Repurposed electric vehicle batteries offer a promising solution, storing renewable energy more efficiently while reducing waste. This emerging technology could reshape how we power the digital age.

Redwood Energy, a Redwood Materials venture, aims to change how people use lithium-ion batteries. Instead of sending batteries from electric vehicles straight to recycling, the company gives them a second life, extending their use before reclaiming minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. The company's engineers and technicians found that many batteries still hold over half their original capacity after they're no longer suitable for cars. Instead of breaking them down immediately, the team repurposes these batteries as stationary energy storage units.

Redwood runs a nationwide logistics network that collects over 70 percent of North America's used battery packs each year. Technicians conduct advanced diagnostics to determine whether to ...