Product
Bulgarian Window Manufacturer Initiates Operation Using NGK’s NAS Batteries for the First Time in Eastern Europe
Contributing to Increasing Renewable Energy Utilization at Production Site
September 26, 2023
NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (hereinafter “NGK”) announces that NAS battery system has started its operation in Kostinbrod, Bulgaria, at the production site of Rollplast, a leader in production and sales of high-tech windows, doors and blinds in Balkan region and Europe. The NAS battery system was ordered through BASF Stationary Energy Storage GmbH (hereinafter “BSES”), a subsidiary of German chemical manufacturer BASF SE and headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
The NAS battery system consists of two container type units, with maximum output of 500 kW and capacity of 2,900 kWh. Having been installed at Rollplast’s production site in Kostinbrod, the batteries are being used in conjunction with rooftop solar power, aiming to increase the site’s rate of renewable energy use and to sell surplus electricity. The decision to deploy NAS batteries, which feature a large capacity and ability to discharge electricity over long periods of time, has been made considering that the batteries have received high marks on various fronts. For instance, they are well-suited to the task of peak shifting in terms of storing electricity generated by the roof top solar during the day for its use at night. They are also highly reliable energy storage technology with an extensive track record. Moreover, the batteries have been granted certification and a test report from UL Solutions, a global independent safety science company. Rollplast intends to supply roughly half of the electricity needed for production at the site from the recently installed NAS batteries and roof top solar.
Corporate efforts to decarbonize business activities have been picking up pace worldwide, underpinned by the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. With other companies in the manufacturing industry also making progress in terms of switching to renewable energy sources at their production sites, Rollplast is now considering to use NAS batteries for increasing utilization of renewable energy for the extension steps of the site in Bulgaria. Factories worldwide, including those of Rollplast, are furthermore expected to increasingly turn to large-capacity storage batteries in seeking to increase their rates of renewable energy use.
NGK and BSES established a sales partnership agreement for NAS batteries in 2019, and have accordingly expanded NAS battery sales through BASF’s global sales network. NAS batteries are used in various applications including those that involve stabilizing renewable energy, balancing electric power demand and supply, and serving as emergency power sources. They have so far been installed in over 250 locations around the world and have a stable operational track record of more than 20 years. NGK will continue to partner with BSES to further promote marketing and sales activities for NAS batteries, contributing to the expansion of renewable energy introduction and realization of carbon neutrality globally.
Overview of the Delivered NAS Battery
| Installation site | Kostinbrod (Sofia Province, Bulgaria) |
|---|---|
| Output | 500 kW DC (maximum output) |
| Capacity | 2,900 kWh DC (at the time of delivery) |
| Units installed | 2 (container type) |
| Applications | Increasing rates of renewable energy use and enabling sales of surplus electricity |
| Start of operation | July 2023 |
About BASF Stationary Energy Storage GmbH (BSES)
BASF Stationary Energy Storage GmbH (BSES) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF SE. BSES distributes the NAS batteries and co-develops the next generation of sodium-sulfur batteries together with NGK Insulators Ltd.
About NAS batteries
NAS batteries are a megawatt class large-capacity storage battery, implemented practically for the first time in the world by NGK. The batteries feature large capacity, high energy density (compact), and long life, and can provide a stable supply of electric power with a high output over long periods of time. They have been installed at over 250 locations worldwide, with a total output of over 720,000 kW (720 MW) and total capacity of approx. 5.0 million kWh (5,000 MWh) installed. They are used for various applications, including peak cutting through load balancing and emergency power supply, as well as stabilization of renewable energy and construction of smart grids, thereby contributing to reduced environmental load and realization of carbon neutrality. NAS batteries have obtained the certification based on stationary storage battery safety standard UL 1973 (cell and module level) and a test report based on UL 9540A standard*, which is to verify batteries and storage battery systems fire risk, for confirming compliance with its evaluation criteria (cell, module and installation level) through the evaluation program of UL Solutions, a global independent safety science company.
- *NAS batteries container type (including the single batteries and modules on mounted) are covered.