Eaton Joins BIG LEAP Research and Development Project To Pioneer Adaptable Energy Storage Systems Harnessing Second-Life Batteries
- Eaton joins 16 leading partners in the BIG LEAP project, an ambitious R&D effort under the Horizon Europe initiative.
- Partners will enable interoperability between different battery chemistries and architectures, strengthening the value chain for second-life batteries.
- Partners will also develop a standardized battery refurbishment process that is faster and more cost-effective.
PRAGUE/ROZTOKY, Czech Republic, June 4, 2024 /3BL/ - Intelligent power management company Eaton announced its participation in the EU research and innovation project BIG LEAP. Lasting for three and a half years, this Horizon Europe program aims to enhance the efficiency, reliability and compatibility of energy storage using second-life batteries from varied electric vehicles.
The BIG LEAP consortium will design and validate an open-source Battery Management System (BMS) that improves interoperability between different battery chemistries and architectures. This includes the development of a flexible energy storage system that supports BMS integration and expands the potential applications of second-life batteries through a modular and scalable design. As well as strengthening existing value chains with more adaptable second-life batteries, the project also aims to develop a standardized battery refurbishment process that is faster and more cost-effective.
Led by the Brussels Research and Innovation Center for Green Technologies, the BIG LEAP consortium brings together 16 academic and industrial partners from Europe, India and Morocco. This includes EDF, TATA Power, and the VTT Technical Research Center, as well as other leading innovators in battery storage and power management systems.
Eaton’s participation in the BIG LEAP project is spearheaded by the Eaton Research Labs (ERL) team in Prague, in close collaboration with the company’s Energy Transition, Digital and Services Division. The team will develop and demonstrate a modular 500 kilowatt-hour energy storage system using second-life batteries at the Eaton European Innovation Center (EEIC), showing how it can reduce energy consumption and costs in commercial buildings. Eaton’s team will also provide support in defining and designing a BMS compatible with different battery types.
During the next 12 months, the ERL team will focus on defining hardware and software requirements, choosing suppliers, and developing the use case for second-life battery integration in the EEIC demonstration system. They will also align with project partners on BMS development and an optimized approach to battery refurbishment.
About Eaton
Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.
Eaton was founded in 1911 and has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange for more than a century. We reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023 and serve customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.
Contact (for journalist enquiries)
Nathalie Lapoirie,
NathalieLapoirie@eaton.com, Tel: +41 78 727 89 66
“We’re thrilled to be part of a consortium that’s changing the game in energy storage. By enabling greater compatibility between systems and components developed by different companies through the right architecture and algorithms, we can make sure batteries have a long and sustainable second life in one safe, reliable and cohesive system.”
Oleksij Chumak, power system specialist, Eaton Research Labs
We make what matters work.
Power is a fundamental part of our world. That's why we're dedicated to improving people's lives and the environment with power management technologies that are more efficient, safe and reliable. Because that's what really matters. And we're here to make sure it works.
“Our contribution to the BIG LEAP project will really move the needle on sustainability—enabling customers to harness energy storage more cost-effectively, while also reducing the waste and emissions associated with battery production. This leap forward is critical if we’re to create a low-carbon future for the next generation!”
Anne Lillywhite, senior vice president, Energy Transition, Digital and Services, Electrical Sector EMEA, Eaton
Energy transition
With a global shift to more renewable power, we have an opportunity to simplify energy systems to unlock a low-carbon future.
