Product
NAS Batteries Start Commercial Operation at BASF’s Schwarzheide Site
Enabling Renewable Energy Use Almost 24 Hours a Day in Manufacturing Processes at the Production Site
March 18, 2024
NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (hereinafter “NGK”) announces that an NAS battery system delivered to BASF’s Schwarzheide site in Germany has started commercial operation. 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 delivered NAS battery system consists of one set of four container type units connected in series, with maximum output of 1,000 kW and capacity of 5,800 kWh. The batteries are scheduled to be used in conjunction with a solar power generation system at BASF’s Schwarzheide site, aiming to increase the site’s rate of renewable energy use. This will be the first undertaking of its kind at a BASF production site. The batteries shall further be used on power markets such as intraday trading and control power. The decision to deploy NAS batteries has been made considering that the batteries have received high marks on various fronts. For instance, the batteries feature a large capacity and ability to discharge electricity over long periods of time, making them well suited to the task of peak shifting the electricity generated by the site’s solar power generation system. They are also highly reliable 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. This is BASF’s second NAS battery system installation project, following the first project in 2021 at its Antwerp site in Belgium.
BASF has been working to reduce CO2 emissions as a climate change mitigation measure. It has been actively striving to increase the rate of renewable energy use at its production sites, with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 25% from 2018 levels by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050. This deployment of a NAS battery system at BASF in Schwarzheide will allow electricity stored in the NAS batteries during periods of surplus solar energy to be discharged during times of solar energy`s deficit. Therefore, the NAS battery system will enable renewable energy to be used in some manufacturing processes at the Schwarzheide site almost 24 hours a day.
NGK and BSES established a sales partnership agreement for NAS batteries in 2019 and have 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 the realization of carbon neutrality globally.
Overview of the Newly Operational NAS Battery
| Installation site | BASF Schwarzheide (Germany) |
|---|---|
| Output | 1,000 kW DC (maximum output) |
| Capacity | 5,800 kWh DC (at the time of delivery) |
| Units installed | Units installed: 4 (container type) |
| Applications | Increasing rates of renewable energy use |
| Start of operation | March 2024 |
About BASF
BASF create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 110,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €87 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.
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.
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*NAS batteries container type (including the single batteries and modules on mounted) are covered.