The Aachen-based startup Voltfang has an ambitious goal: building Europe’s largest second-life battery factory. Used batteries from electric cars are to get a second life as stationary energy storage in the heart of Europe – a concept that conserves resources and could accelerate the energy transition.
By Jan Nintemann and Jochen Siegle; Photo: Voltfang
What started five years ago in a garage has now become a rapidly growing greentech company with around 120 employees and a production hall of 6,000 square meters.
From Garage Project to Gigawatt Goal
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister-President Hendrik Wüst made sure to symbolically open the facility. The growth plans are ambitious: By 2030, Voltfang aims to increase its current production capacity of 100 megawatt-hours per year tenfold to one gigawatt-hour.
Why Second-Life Batteries are Important
Electric car batteries lose performance over time – but often 70 to 80 percent of their storage capacity remains. This residual energy can be used to temporarily store electricity from wind and solar systems and stabilize grids. This extends the lifespan of the batteries by up to ten years before they are finally recycled.
Opportunities and Open Questions
Second-life storage systems are considered key to the circular economy. However, clear Europe-wide take-back and collection systems that secure the supply are still missing. Safety questions also remain unanswered: How reliable are old cells in long-term operation? And how much can the industry truly scale if electricity demand in Europe rises exponentially?
European Perspective: Competition and Independence through Second-Life Concepts
Voltfang is part of a growing number of European startups aiming to compete in the global race for energy storage technologies. It’s clear: battery technology is becoming a key geopolitical resource. If Europe wants to avoid import dependency, it needs its own solutions – from second-life concepts and new technologies like sodium or solid-state batteries to sustainable recycling processes.
TransformIT Europe 2026: Battery Storage in Focus
This is exactly where TransformIT Europe comes in: In May 2026, the pan-European Greentech trade fair and conference will place a central focus on battery storage technologies. The goal is to bring together leading minds and companies from all over Europe – from startups and research to established corporations.
We invite the European industry to participate, network, and jointly develop standards that secure Europe’s competitiveness and create true independence.
Join the discussion at TransformIT Europe 2026 (May 5–8) on whether second-life batteries are the key driver for Europe’s energy transition – or an intermediate step on the way to the next generations of storage?
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