Volvo Penta, Utility Innovation Group partner on battery energy storage

Volvo Penta, which just recently announced its entry into the battery energy storage sector jointly with OEMs, has unveiled a partnership with decentralized and microgrid systems provider Utility Innovation Group (UIG). Aimed at U.S. and international markets, the companies are collaborating to enhance power grid reliability and resiliency through battery energy storage and integration by maximizing the grid’s use of renewable wind and solar power.

Volvo Penta and UIG will work closely to adapt and integrate Volvo Penta’s scalable subsystem into modular nodes of scalable battery energy storage. (Photo: Volvo Penta)

Raleigh, NC-based UIG has extensive experience and knowledge in the field of distributed energy resources (DER), microgrids, data centers and power systems, with an emphasis on the potential for large-scale deployment of battery energy storage applications. As an independent supplier, Volvo Penta’s system-supplier approach covers the entire value chain from battery design to the subsystem support for the OEMs’ battery energy storage systems, while meeting safety and performance standards, the company noted.

“We considered all options when evaluating our battery storage market strategy, and Volvo Penta’s technical aptitude prevailed,” said Derek Tugwell, president UIG, of the partnership. “Volvo Penta’s investments in supply, research and development and engineering competence create an extremely robust technology platform ready to tackle the grid’s toughest challenges.”

The two companies will work closely to adapt and integrate Volvo Penta’s highly configurable and inherently scalable subsystem into modular nodes of scalable battery energy storage, with the goal of ultimately designing a resilient and carbon-free grid.

“While Volvo Penta provides the subsystem to the battery energy storage, our partners have deep grid operability and application expertise,” said Darren Tasker, vice president - Industrial, Volvo Penta North America. “Our cooperation enables a lean, start-up way of working that will help us both to scale up quickly, with UIG contributing its vast experience in the intricacies of deploying advanced power systems to specific segments.”

As Sidney Hinton, founder and CEO of UIG, noted, the reliability society has come to expect from traditional grid operations cannot be sacrificed in the pursuit of a fully carbonized grid. “As the grid evolves, and large energy users rapidly become ‘prosumers’ continually investing in new types of power systems, the need arises for innovative solutions,” he stated. “Our integration experience, combined with Volvo Penta’s compelling solution, gives us a key market advantage – enabling our teams to shape the future of electric grid infrastructure across the globe.”