Sustainable Battery Storage: Voltfang and Deutsche Leasing Drive Transformation in the SME Sector

The energy transition poses major challenges for German SMEs – fluctuating power supply from wind and solar energy, rising electricity prices, and growing sustainability requirements. Battery storage solutions are therefore seen as a key technology: they make companies more independent, increase supply security, and improve their carbon footprint. This is exactly where Voltfang comes in. The Aachen-based startup develops sustainable battery storage systems from unused batteries as well as second-life batteries from the automotive industry. Recently, the team has been working closely with Deutsche Leasing and its CVC unit vent.io. In this interview with Ambivation, co-founder David Oudsandji explains why SMEs are now turning to storage solutions (BESS), how lithium-ion batteries are given a second life, and what the partnership with Deutsche Leasing means for him and his team.

David, why are battery storage systems so important for sustainable energy supply?
On the one hand, we want to drive the energy transition forward in Germany and achieve climate neutrality by 2045. On the other hand, there are still many unanswered questions along the way. The main one: how do we ensure supply security? Sun and wind are not always available when electricity is needed. In many industries there are also times of day or days when particularly high amounts of energy are required. For example, we work with a large supermarket chain that had to pay 10 percent of its annual electricity costs for supply on just one day – the hottest day of the year.

Battery storage balances such fluctuations in generation and demand and contributes in particular to peak shaving. It also makes it possible to operate in-house solar systems on the roofs of industrial buildings and use the solar power generated even when the sun is not shining. For companies this means more independence from rising energy prices, better planning security, and a clear contribution to climate protection.

You promise your customers particularly sustainable storage solutions. What makes them special?
For our storage systems, we use unused batteries and second-life batteries from the automotive industry. This saves valuable resources – a real lever for sustainability and cost-effectiveness! We check the batteries for their state of health, which shows us how much residual capacity they still have. In addition, our system evaluates all relevant health factors in real time during operation.

How is it that there are so many unused car batteries – not the second-life ones, but the fresh ones?
Electromobility simply hasn’t taken off yet in the way many manufacturers expected. As a result, many vehicle batteries are left over.

Some companies view the use of used batteries as a risk.
When second-life batteries come to us, they still have 80 to 90 percent residual capacity. In cars, there are much stronger load peaks during acceleration and thus a much higher strain than in a stationary battery storage system. Most of the batteries we currently use are so-called new life modules that have never been in use. Here we and our customers benefit from the high quality of automotive batteries. In addition, safe use of the batteries is ensured by 24/7 monitoring. And with each of our storage units, we provide a cycle-independent 10-year warranty.

We don’t just see ourselves as a manufacturer of sustainable battery storage systems, but as a holistic solution provider. By not only building but also monitoring the storage systems and optimizing settings for electricity supply, we act as a service provider. For example, we show customers how to use their battery storage systems in a particularly gentle and efficient way.

Who are your customers?
We support various supermarket chains, such as Aldi, Netto, and La Familia, but also Stuttgart Airport and industrial customers like Kerschgens, Kemapack, and Myrenne. In Aachen, we built a grid-supporting storage system. Overall, we currently have more than 380 systems in the field.

That sounds great! But today we also want to talk about your cooperation with the Deutsche Leasing Group. How did that come about?
We were approached directly by the investment team of vent.io, Deutsche Leasing’s CVC unit. During a VC roundtable event, we deepened the discussions and quickly realized that there are many synergies.

A battery storage system can already be a major investment for small and medium-sized enterprises. Leasing gives many more companies the opportunity to implement such projects and, for example, use the electricity generated from their own rooftop solar installations.

At the same time, thanks to the integration of Rabot Energy, another vent.io portfolio company, dynamic electricity tariffs can be utilized. This further increases the cost-effectiveness of storage solutions and enables even more efficient use of solar power and battery storage.

What benefits does this bring to the Deutsche Leasing Group?
For Deutsche Leasing, investing in us means expanding its existing asset classes into a highly relevant new area. The team had already recognized that SMEs are showing growing interest and demand for battery storage solutions. We are a strong partner here because we offer everything customers need – from consulting to technology to service – and in combination with financing, this massively lowers the entry barriers.

I believe the Deutsche Leasing Group also sees itself as a kind of transformation financier in this context. It doesn’t just want to finance individual storage systems, but entire infrastructures. This naturally has a positive effect on customer satisfaction. Even though our cooperation is still in its early stages, we are already excited to be part of it.

How do you as a startup benefit?
The DL Group is a highly interesting partner for us, as it already has contact with so many SMEs that could benefit from our solutions. vent.io supports us not only with investment but also with marketing, PR, and close cooperation, helping us to accelerate sales.

What role do sustainability and environmental protection play in your cooperation?
Of course, anything is better than discarding a fully functional battery with full capacity or at least 80 to 90 percent residual capacity. Battery production requires valuable raw materials, and recycling is extremely complex. Through our cooperation, we are helping companies, together with Deutsche Leasing Group, to act more sustainably, become part of a circular economy, and achieve their climate goals. Ultimately, it is also important that all of this makes sense not only ecologically but also economically.

Contact

Webseite: voltfang.de

LinkedIn: David Oudsandji