On April 14, 2026, Rivian and Redwood Materials announced a collaboration to deploy a battery energy storage system at Rivian’s manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. The project will repurpose more than 100 second-life Rivian battery packs to create a 10 megawatt-hour (MWh) dispatchable energy resource. This installation is designed to lower energy costs and alleviate grid stress during peak demand periods, enhancing both operational savings and regional grid reliability.
Under the agreement, Rivian will supply used electric vehicle battery packs to Redwood Materials. Redwood will integrate these packs into its Redwood Energy platform, managed by the company’s proprietary Redwood Pack Manager technology. The resulting system offers rapid scalability and reduced capital expense by leveraging proven EV battery hardware. Stored energy can be dispatched on site at Rivian’s Normal facility, enabling flexible load management without waiting for new grid infrastructure.
Industry analysts project that by 2030, the United States will need more than 600 gigawatt-hours of energy storage capacity to balance rising electricity demand and stabilize peak loads. This requirement is roughly equivalent to the Hoover Dam’s output running continuously for two months. Second-life EV batteries present an immediate resource to help meet those needs.
“Electric vehicles represent a massive, distributed and highly competitive energy resource,” said Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. “Our partnership with Redwood allows us to extend the service life of our batteries beyond the vehicle and contribute to grid health and U.S. competitiveness.”
Redwood Materials Founder and CEO JB Straubel added, “Electricity demand is accelerating faster than the grid can expand, constraining industrial growth. Our collaboration with Rivian shows how EV battery packs can be converted into dispatchable energy assets, supporting critical manufacturing and reducing strain on the grid without waiting years for new infrastructure.”
Stationary energy storage offers significant benefits for both customers and utilities by lowering energy bills during peak pricing events and improving grid stability. By transitioning retired EV batteries into on-site energy resources before recycling, this partnership aims to extend battery life, decrease dependency on imported storage technologies, and defer substantial infrastructure upgrades.
Source: Redwood Materials (https://www.redwoodmaterials.com/news/rivian-and-redwood-materials-announce-energy-storage-partnership-for-manufacturing/)
