Rivian Automotive and Redwood Materials announced a partnership to install a 10‑megawatt‑hour battery energy‑storage system at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois manufacturing facility. The system will use more than 100 second‑life Rivian battery packs, making it the largest repurposed battery storage installation for a U.S. automotive manufacturer.
The storage array will be built with Redwood Materials’ Redwood Pack Manager technology and is expected to be operational later this year. By repurposing retired Rivian batteries, the partnership extends the useful life of battery components and supports the company’s sustainability goals.
The 10‑MWh system will reduce operating costs by lowering the plant’s peak‑load demand and provide a more resilient, cost‑effective power supply for production. The project also demonstrates a circular‑economy approach to battery management and positions Rivian to contribute to grid reliability during high‑demand periods.
"EVs represent a massive, distributed and highly competitive energy resource. As energy needs grow, our grid needs to be flexible, secure, and affordable. Our partnership with Redwood enables us to utilize our vehicle's batteries beyond the life of a vehicle and contribute to grid health and American competitiveness," said Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe.
"Electricity demand is accelerating faster than the grid can expand, posing a constraint on industrial growth. At the same time, the massive amount of domestic battery assets already in the U.S. market represents a strategic energy resource. Our partnership with Rivian shows how EV battery packs can be turned into dispatchable energy resources, bringing new capacity online quickly, supporting critical manufacturing, and reducing strain on the grid without waiting years for new infrastructure. This is a scalable model for how we add meaningful energy capacity in the near term," said Redwood Materials founder JB Straubel.
The partnership aligns with Rivian’s broader strategy to expand its Normal plant capacity from 155,000 to 215,000 units per year and to strengthen its sustainability profile. It also reflects an industry trend toward second‑life battery applications, positioning Rivian as a leader in innovative energy solutions within the automotive sector.
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