Saft's Flex'ion batteries will support the integration of solar and hydropower into microgrids on the small Sicilian islands of Favignana and Ustica.
The maintenance-free, modular Li-ion battery solution provides stability to the grid while reducing the need for diesel consumption, enabling low-carbon power production.
Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, has installed seven maintenance-free Li-ion battery systems supporting a microgrid with solar plants on the Italian island of Favignana (Sicily). These systems are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2022.
On the remote island of Ustica, Saft's Flex'ion batteries will support a microgrid powered by hydroelectric and solar plants, as well as diesel generation. The batteries will be connected to the distribution network and integrated into a smart electricity grid in the coming months.
These are the first milestones of the "I-Sole project", involving local utility companies, as well as the scientific expertise of the University of Palermo and the Italian National Research Council. The project is financially supported by the European Union and the Sicilian Region, under the technical leadership of Layer Electronics, a local power electronics company.
The “I-Sole project” aims to develop innovative technical solutions for the monitoring and control of electricity generation and distribution, to increase the use of renewable sources and storage systems on the small Sicilian islands while supporting the safety of the electrical supply. The Flex'ion battery system with its built-in remote monitoring capability is an asset to grid operator targets.
Antonino Culcasi, Managing Director of Layer Electronics, said: “Layer has long experience in power systems that support the deployment of renewable energy. I-Sole will allow small, non-interconnected islands such as Ustica and Favignana to be less dependent on their existing diesel power plants, especially during peak demand thanks to batteries and the grid. Saft's Flex'ion batteries have been successfully tested with our products in Italy. They have also been specified due to their strong track record when it comes to safety, long life, reliability and availability. Saft was the best candidate".
Mauro Fassina, Managing Director of Saft in Italy, said: “For decades, Saft has provided battery solutions for island microgrids around the world, from Hawaii to Gran Canaria. Remote Italian islands like Ustica or Favignana cannot depend on the mainland for their power supply, and yet they aim to reduce carbon emissions by integrating more renewables into the grid. Sending technical personnel to these islands for maintenance purposes is not an easy task. The technical characteristics of these projects, such as load profile or stress, were quite different and might have required different and customized solutions.
Saft's Flex'ion batteries solve these challenges by providing a standard, safe, maintenance free and modular solution. We are very proud to be part of the I-Sole project, which once again demonstrates the key role of Saft for low carbon island microgrids.".
Flex'ion batteries are assembled in our factory in Raškovice in the Czech Republic, using Li-ion cells made in Nersac in France.
