Welcome on Board Volvo

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Volvo who joined EASE in June 2024. Spokespeople from Volvo Group, Kristian Vekas, Product Manager for BESS subsystems at Volvo Penta and Mark Ellis, Head of Battery Optimization and Monitoring at Volvo Energy, accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of Volvo, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We're delighted to have Volvo as a new member. Can you provide an overview of Volvo’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company's work in this field?

The Volvo Group is seizing new opportunities in the battery energy storage sector, enhancing its battery electric platform's value chain. This effort is evident in two business areas: Volvo Penta, which supplies energy-dense BESS subsystems, and Volvo Energy, which provides BESS solutions using second-life batteries. For more details, visit the Volvo Penta and Volvo Energy homepages.

The energy transition faces both opportunities and challenges. We aim to bridge gaps for high energy users and energy companies using renewables. An end-to-end strategy is crucial, viewing battery energy storage as a key component in the energy transition. As electrification and data usage grow, collaborative efforts are essential to meet rising energy demands. Society, including governments, individuals, and corporations, must unify and standardize solutions to accelerate change. Our goal is to offer competitive, profitable, and reliable long-term solutions, working closely with customers to identify the best business cases and applications.

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated Volvo to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

This collaboration is crucial for aligning regulatory goals and milestones for EU energy storage, enabling us to meet customer needs efficiently. We are excited to engage with the community in this evolving sector to explore new collaboration opportunities. We also aim to raise questions around the importance of unified safety standards— one of our core values in the Volvo Group; alongside how we can all accelerate the energy transition through energy storage and circularity within the battery value-chain.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see Volvo playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

Energy storage is crucial for the energy transition, enabling renewable integration and grid stability. The Volvo Group aims to further advance battery energy storage solutions. The Volvo Group is extensively involved in real-world testing and operations, addressing immediate electrification and charging needs. Supporting our existing customers in their transition to electric mobility is also a key deliverable for Volvo including optimized charging solutions and the provision of charging in locations not served by the electricity grid for example construction sites or mines. Leveraging these experiences Volvo Penta and Volvo Energy endeavors to accelerate market entry and contribute to setting unified safety standards. We are committed to driving the energy transition through innovation, collaboration, and circularity.

Become a Member

Don't miss any policy updates and benefit of special discounts for EASE events. Get premium access to all our services and shape the future of the energy system!

JOIN NOW