international # 32 SPRING 2015 Powering the Rosetta mission > page 6 Rail traction backup in China > page 12 100 millionth cell produced at Zhuhai > page 15 This edition of Saft International illustrates how Saft is continuing to accompany its customers in their innovative and ambitious projects worldwide. Saft’s nickel-based batteries registered major successes in the rail and stationary back-up power markets in the Middle-East and Asia in particular, and are also on board the new H175 Airbus helicopter. Primary lithium technologies also performed very well in the last few months, and two major milestones were achieved at the end of 2014 when our Zhuhai plant in China produced its 100 millionth cell for the metering and electronics markets, and when the Saft battery on board the Philae lander performed perfectly to contribute to the success of the European Rosetta Bruno Dathis mission, as the entire world watched on. Acting Chairman of the Our customers continued to progressively adopt our Li-ion Management Board technologies in markets such as energy storage, marine, regenerative Saft Groupe SA braking in rail applications, military aircraft and hybrid power plants. As a result our group grew well in 2014, gaining market share in many segments, and will continue to grow in 2015. Saft is an experienced and reliable partner for all your battery projects requiring failsafe performance and technical expertise. We are the world leader in our traditional technologies and markets and are positioned on exciting and growing markets with our Li-ion technologies. All of Saft’s teams are devoted to delivering to our customer’s high-performance, cost-competitive advanced battery solutions in all our technologies and in all markets around the world. You can continue to rely on Saft to bring you innovative solutions for your current and future energy storage needs. IN THIS ISSUE 4 Corporate news 6 Comet touchdown for Rosetta mission 6 8 Proven reliability for space missions 10 Airbus Helicopters H175 takes off 11 Rail regenerative braking system wins award 12 Major rail contracts in China 14 Back-up for critical oil and gas power 12 15 100 millionth cell produced in Zhuhai 16 Hawkei adopts Li-ion batteries 17 Fuel savings for transit fleets with Supercapacitors 18 Lithium-ion lightens the load in London 15 20 Seanergy® receives marine safty approval 21 Storing solar energy in the Arctic 22 Hybrid power plant slashes fuel consumption 24 2015 events 20 Saft Corporate Communication, Saft International _ A magazine for Saft’s customers and business partners. 12 rue Sadi Carnot, 93170 Bagnolet. Editor-in-chief: Jill Ledger. Managing Editor: Lina Betancourt. Tel: +33 (0)1 4993 1707. Text: Six Degrees. Graphic design: ML Lanceau. Photo credits © : ESA/ATG medialab; Comet image: ESA/Rosetta/Navcam - Saft - Michel Jolyot - Manfred Moon Memorial Mission - Cnes/Crédits www.saftbatteries.com DLR - Airbus Helicopters/Patrick Penna - Septa - CNR Changchun - CNOOC - Thales/Australian depart- e-mail: [email protected] ment of Defence - Wikimedia Commons/Grullab - Fotolia/starsstudio/Delmas Lehman/chungking/Gang/ leungchopan/khunaspix/connel_design/william87/dbvirago/juan35mm/yvvv - Istockphoto/Jezperklauzen. News Li-ion cells working under new extremes aft has extended the operating range of its MP Integration™ Li-ion cells. The SMP (medium prismatic) series has been extended with wide temperature variants that can operate in extreme heat or cold. Extended life & temperature range The MP Integration™ xtd are the only Li-ion cells on the market that have the capability of providing high performance power from – 40 ˚C to + 85 ˚C. The xtd series has been developed to deliver reliable power and meet the long life expectancy of rugged industrial equipment, removing the need for maintenance or battery replacement. Extreme cold On the other hand, the MP Integration™ xc Li-ion cell has unrivalled low temperature - 50 ˚C - 40°C/+ 85 ˚C 6.4 Ah performance from – 50 ˚C to + 60 ˚C. It has low temperature world’s widest capacity of MP applications in defence, professional portable achieved with temperature range of Integration 176065 tools, oil and gas and aerospace. xc model xtd Li-ion cell xc cell [email protected] Primary lithium cells make pulses race aft has expanded its industry Secondly, to support growth in demand leading LM range of Li-MnO2 for the LM range, Saft has invested in Sbatteries for general industrial its plant at Valdese, in North Carolina, applications while boosting production USA, to create a high output automated capacity and consolidating the Friwo-M manufacturing line that will ramp up range into its core brand. The key feature production in mid 2015. of Li-MnO2 electrochemistry is its high pulse capability even after long dormant Finally, Saft has brought its Friwo M periods combined with an extremely low cells into its core brand. Now known as self-discharge rate. This makes it popular Saft M cells, the range is manufactured for smart metering, alarms & security in Büdingen, Germany, and includes and oil & gas installations in which the the world’s only high-power primary cells have a lifetime of up to 20 years. lithium cells that are certified for use in A key feature of Firstly, three new cells have been potentially explosive atmospheres by an Li-MnO2 cells is added to the LM range. These A, C and independent certification body. D-sized cells have extended the capacity their high pulse of the range to suit a broader range of [email protected] capability applications. 4 SAFT INTERNATIONAL #32 News Jacksonville open day enhances reputation aft held an investor and media day in tour of the high-volume manufacturing facility as November 2014 at its Lithium-ion (Li-ion) well as presentations on Saft’s markets, growth Splant in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, to opportunities and future prospects. explain Saft’s position as the world leader in Bruno Dathis said: “This open day gave Saft 300 advanced batteries for high tech industrial appli- the opportunity to present our medium-term plans cations. and answer questions about our technologies and employees work at Saft Jacksonville Investors, analysts and the media were business. It also enabled us to demonstrate the high welcomed by Saft’s senior management including volume production capability that underpins our acting Chairman Bruno Dathis and they enjoyed a advanced Li-ion battery strategy.” $300 million annual sales capacity 2012 production started at Jacksonville Markets served : Energy Storage, Telecom Networks, Vehicles and Marine #32 SAFT InternatIonal 5 Space Comet mission The French national space agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) congratulated Saft for powering the Philae Lander on its historic comet touchdown, which was widely reported in the world’s media in November. success he Philae Lander was the key payload Lander to wake up from its deep space Benoit Lagattu, Saft’s Project Manager of the European Space Agency’s hibernation. The battery was then the sole for Satellite Batteries was responsible for T(ESA) Rosetta mission and during the power source for the Lander’s systems delivering the battery to CNES in 2001 and craft’s construction, Saft supplied a primary during its final descent to the comet said: “We are extremely proud of the perfor- lithium battery to CNES on ESA’s behalf. and provided hours of power for its first mance of the primary lithium battery on board Mr Lam-Trong Thien, Manager of the sequence of scientific tests, overpassing the Philae Lander. It performed exactly as Electrical Power Department of CNES Saft’s 60 hour commitment and operating we envisaged, surviving extreme cold, shock, Toulouse, said: “Congratulations to Saft for at a far lower temperature than foreseen. vibration and a decade-long flight to deliver the quality of the primary lithium battery The battery successfully completed all power when it was needed most. Our success that was essential for the success of the of its mission requirements and delivered on the Rosetta mission is testament to Saft’s Rosetta mission.” more than its specified hours of autono- 50-year experience in batteries for space.” After its 10-year journey covering more mous power for 11 instruments, sample than 40 times Earth’s distance to the Sun, collection and analysis, photography and [email protected] the Saft LSH20 battery enabled the Philae communication with Earth. 6 SAFT INTERNATIONAL #32 Space Q&A with Yannick Borthomieu Saft’s Satellite and Launcher Battery Product Manager answers a few questions about Saft’s space batteries. What is Saft’s experience lander’s life, allowing it to perform of batteries for space? its planned program and 11 experi- Saft has more than 50 years’ expe- ments successfully. rience in space batteries and has powered almost 800 satellites, space How have batteries vehicles like the Philae Lander, changed since Rosetta launchers, Moon Probes and Mars was launched? Comet mission Rovers. Today Saft is involved in all Since 2004 lithium primary systems kinds of space applications. have developed higher specific energy and higher power, whereas What are the challenges the energy density of rechargeable for space batteries? Li-ion batteries has increased from success Space batteries must perform in 130 Wh/kg to 180 Wh/kg and more. the harsh space environment and have low weight, very long life and Where does the future lie? high reliability. The consequences We are now working on the next 65 hours of failure are catastrophic for space generation of both primary and battery-powered operation missions and so it’s important to rechargeable lithium battery systems. of Philae lander demonstrate reliability with Saft’s The challenge is increasing the in-orbit track record and stringent specific energy to reduce the weight ground testing.