A consortium led by Saft, a designer and manufacturer of advanced technology batteries for industry, has been awarded a multi-million euro project by Akuo Energy. This turnkey contract is realized in partnership with Ingeteam (Spain) - world leading manufacturer of power electronics and energy management systems– and Corex Solar (based in La Réunion) to build the Bardzour solar photovoltaic production and lithium-ion energy storage system on the French island of La Réunion in the Indian Ocean. The project at Le Port will combine a 9 MWp power plant with a 9 MWh Intensium® Max+ 20E containerised battery system in the Consortium’s turnkey contract for a complete energy production and storage scheme. Delivery is planned during the first half of the year.

The Bardzour installation is the largest project announced in the group of 16 solar farm projects awarded in 2012 under the French CRE tender (CRE: Commission de Régulation de l’Energie) for a total of 50 MW of solar PV production capacity coupled with storage in Corsica and French overseas departments.

Energy storage will play an important enabling role in further increasing the share of already cost-competitive renewable generation in non-interconnected island grids by making solar and wind power a predictable and reliable element within the overall energy mix and contributing to grid stability. The future market potential in French overseas territories is estimated as several hundreds of MW of storage.

"The announcement of this contract in this CRE global tender reinforces our vision that energy storage will play an important role in the NIZ (Non Interconnected Zones) and confirms our leadership position in this developing future market," added François Bouchon, Director of Energy Storage at Saft. "We are delighted to have been selected for this major project on La Reunion Island that adds Akuo Energy to our growing portfolio of energy storage customers," says Aurélie Tornier, Saft Energy Storage Sales Manager.

Photo Credit: Business Wire