These are the first milestones of the "I-Sole project," a collaboration between local utility companies and 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 Region of Sicily, and is under the technical leadership of Layer Electronics, a local power electronics company.
The "I-Sole project" aims to develop innovative technical solutions for monitoring and controlling electricity generation and distribution, increasing the use of renewable energy sources and storage systems on the small Sicilian islands while ensuring the security of the electricity supply. The Flex'ion battery system, with its integrated remote monitoring capabilities, is a valuable asset for the grid operators' objectives.
Antonino Culcasi, managing director of Layer Electronics, said: “Layer has extensive experience in power systems that support the deployment of renewable energy. I-Sole will allow small, unconnected islands like Ustica and Favignana to reduce their reliance on their existing diesel power plants, especially during peak demand, thanks to the batteries and grid connection. Saft’s Flex’ion batteries have been successfully tested with our products in Italy. They were also specified due to their strong track record in terms of safety, long lifespan, 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 and Favignana cannot rely on the mainland for their energy supply, yet they aim to reduce carbon emissions by integrating more renewable energy into the grid. Sending technical personnel to these islands for maintenance is no easy task. The technical characteristics of these projects, such as load profiles and voltage, were quite distinct and could have required different, customized solutions.
Saft’s Flex’ion batteries address 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 Saft’s key role in low-carbon island microgrids.”
Flex'ion batteries are assembled at our factory in Raškovice in the Czech Republic, using Li-ion cells manufactured in Nersac in France.
