Interruptions in the supply of electricity can impact homes, businesses and essential services. Whether during scheduled shutdowns for network maintenance or in emergency situations, maintaining supply is one of the main challenges faced by energy utilities. To respond to this need, a project developed by Celesc, the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and the Stemmer Foundation for Research, Development and Innovation (FEESC) is creating a unique solution in Brazil: a Transportable Battery Energy Storage System (STAEB), capable of temporarily supplying energy at different points on the electrical grid. With an investment of R$11.36 million, the initiative is part of the Research and Development Program of the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL). Of this total, R$10.26 million comes from Celesc and R$1.09 million corresponds to the counterpart from UFSC. FEESC is responsible for the administrative and financial management of the project, which is scheduled to be implemented between November 2023 and October 2027. Electric car batteries gain a new role in the energy sector Disclosure/FEESC A "mobile power plant" to provide more flexibility to the electrical grid The system is being developed on a semi-trailer specially designed to transport a set of new batteries and reused batteries from electric vehicles, in addition to a diesel generator used as a support system. The main advantage is mobility: the structure can be moved to different regions according to the distributor's needs, offering support during scheduled shutdowns, emergency outages or periods of increased energy demand. In practice, the technology will function as a mobile energy storage unit, expanding the network's service capacity in specific situations and allowing the evaluation, in real operating conditions, of an application that is still little explored in the country. Santa Catarina project reuses electric car batteries to avoid blackouts Disclosure/FEESC What can electric car batteries still offer? One of the project's differences is the use of "second life" batteries. When lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles reach approximately 80% of their original capacity, they are no longer considered ideal for mobility. However, they still have sufficient performance for stationary applications such as energy storage. Instead of being discarded, these batteries can gain a new function, extending their useful life and reducing the environmental impacts associated with the disposal of equipment with high technological value. In addition to the environmental aspect, this strategy also seeks to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of this reuse, transforming a material that could be discarded into a solution for the electrical sector. “With the advent of electric cars, we face an environmental problem: batteries are removed from vehicles when they reach 80% of use, needing to be changed, as they no longer have autonomy. Therefore, our project aims to reuse these second-life batteries, which can still last 8 to 10 years, in the electricity sector. We are testing their behavior, as well as their impacts on the sector. Our main objective is to transform an environmental liability into a business asset", highlights Helena Naspolini, coordinator of the STAEB project. Celesc tests reused batteries to maintain energy during interruptions Disclosure/FEESC Research connects universities, companies and the public sector In addition to Celesc, UFSC and FEESC, the project has the participation of WEG Equipamentos Elétricos S.A., responsible for developing the storage system prototype, and Trucvan Indústria e Comércio Ltda., responsible for manufacturing the semi-trailer specially designed to receive the equipment. This integration between the university, the production sector and the energy concessionaire allows scientific knowledge to be transformed into solutions with potential for practical application. In this process, FEESC acts as responsible for the administrative and financial management of the project, helping researchers, public institutions and companies to work in an integrated manner during all stages of development. stands out in the management of complex projects, such as the CELESC Project for a Transportable Battery Energy Storage System, ensuring transparency, tax compliance and efficiency in the application of resources. The robustness of administrative and financial management by FEESC is reinforced by governance, integrity and accountability mechanisms, with a data intelligence panel integrating the Foundation's various structures in real time", highlights Luiz Felipe Ferreira, President Director of FEESC. "Mobile power plant" with batteries can reinforce energy supply in emergencies Disclosure/FEESC A project that can contribute to the future of energy distribution In addition to offering support during interruptions in energy supply, the project will make it possible to evaluate, in a real environment, the behavior of transportable storage systems in distribution networks, generating information that could contribute to future applications of this technology in Brazil “The project we are developing here is unprecedented worldwide. Never before has the use of second-life batteries been applied to the electrical grid. This places Celesc at a high level in terms of research and innovation. The company gains value, showing that Brazil and Santa Catarina have the capacity for innovation, and this attracts the attention of the rest of the world. Furthermore, society benefits from