Breathing New Life Into Energy Storage: A Second-Life Retrofit Success and Its Potential for Asia Pacific
In the clean energy space, it's not just about what's new—it's about how we make the most of what already exists. That’s why second-life energy storage is gaining real traction, especially as legacy systems across the globe begin to underperform.
In 2023, our technology partner delivered a breakthrough retrofit project in the United Kingdom—reviving a degraded battery site without a full rebuild. Now, at Altilium Green Energy, we’re excited to bring that same innovation to Asia Pacific—where ageing infrastructure, land constraints, and growing demand call for smarter, more flexible solutions.
The Challenge: Ageing Infrastructure, Shrinking Returns
The UK site, originally installed in 2017, operated a 3 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) with a single daily cycle. Within five years, its battery cells had degraded to under 40% capacity—turning a once-profitable project into a financial strain. The original equipment supplier had exited the market, and replacement parts were no longer available.
This story isn’t unique. Around the world—including here in Asia Pacific—legacy BESS assets are facing similar issues: declining performance, limited support, and diminishing returns.
The Solution: Retrofit, Don’t Replace
Rather than building from scratch, we deployed a smart retrofit solution using our proprietary SMART™ battery modules—tripling the site’s capacity from 3 MWh to 9 MWh without expanding the physical footprint. Core infrastructure such as the inverter, transformer, and containerized housing were retained and seamlessly integrated with the new DC battery tech.
This compatibility is a critical advantage. Unlike most battery storage solutions in the market—especially in Asia Pacific—our system is agnostic. That means it can work with existing site infrastructure, avoiding the need to replace PCS, transformers, or enclosures. Operators don’t have to start over; they can simply scale smarter.
Project Highlights:
Daily cycling increased from 1 to 2
Battery capacity retained at >95% since installation in 2023
>99% uptime to date
First-year net profit: £236,000
Projected 10-year net profit: £3.88 million
📍 Installation by: Clean Cell Engineering
Battery Lifecycle: Longevity Redefined
The original batteries degraded after 4–5 years of use. The new SMART™ battery modules—installed in 2023—are designed for over 20 years of high-performance operation, even under intensive two-cycle-per-day usage. And with no degradation reported in the first year, the difference in long-term value is substantial.
Built for the Circular Economy
In addition to performance and profit, sustainability is central to the solution. The SMART™ batteries offer:
100% recyclability, supporting a circular energy economy
Non-toxic materials, with no hazardous disposal requirements
Heat and fire propagation resistance, improving safety and regulatory compliance
This isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a cleaner, safer, and more responsible path forward.
Why This Matters for Asia Pacific
At Altilium Green Energy, we’re working to bring this exact retrofit model to markets across Asia Pacific. Many sites here face challenges similar to the UK project: ageing infrastructure, limited vendor support, and growing pressure to meet clean energy targets fast.
Yet in many parts of Asia, most competitive battery solutions require full system replacement—forcing operators to abandon usable infrastructure, increase capex, and delay deployment timelines.
Our SMART™ battery modules are different:
System-agnostic: compatible with most existing PCS, transformers, and containers
Modular and compact, perfect for land-limited or remote installations
Long lifespan, reducing long-term maintenance and replacement costs
Environmentally safer, aligning with ESG goals
With rising demand and grid pressures, second-life BESS upgrades offer a faster, lower-risk path to boosting capacity and resilience.
Conclusion
This case study from the UK is more than a technical win—it’s proof that we don’t always need to build new to unlock real value. With the right technology and smart deployment, we can repower what we already have and make it better than before.
At Altilium Green Energy, we’re proud to champion this approach across Asia Pacific—delivering smarter storage, extended lifespans, and a greener energy future.
✅ Ready to learn more?
If you're exploring how to upgrade an existing energy storage system or want to partner on sustainable BESS deployments in Asia Pacific, we’d love to connect.
📩 Contact Altilium Green Energy today
🌐 Visit us at www.altiliumgreen.energy
