Exide Technologies Goes Live with On-Site Solar Installation and Battery Storage at Portuguese Factory

• Exide Technologies and EDP go live with state-of-the-art solar installation at Portuguese production facility, which is backed by 500 kWh of battery storage
• Exide previously introduced a solar installation at its recycling facility in Azambuja
• Exide now has a combined capacity of 4.5 MWp in Portugal, reducing carbon emissions by more than 20% across both installations

Exide Technologies (www.exidegroup.com), a leading provider of stored electrical energy solutions, and EDP go live with a state-of-the-art solar installation at Exide’s Portuguese battery production facility in Castanheira do Ribatejo. It is backed by an energy storage system using Exide’s high-performance Sonnenschein A600 gel battery technology, allowing for greater control and self-consumption of energy. Last year, Exide already introduced a solar installation at its Portuguese battery recycling facility in Azambuja, and now the company has combined capacity of 4.5 MWp across the two installations

One of the largest of its kind in Europe

The production facility shows an exciting path forward for energy-intensive manufacturers looking to reduce energy costs and manage carbon emissions. Solar provides a cost-effective and renewable source of energy. Stored energy can be used at night and in reduced sunlight, further reducing emissions and dependence on the grid. It is one of the largest self-generation installations backed by a BESS (battery energy storage system) in Europe, and highlights the potential for such projects to be deployed at scale.

The two new installations contain approximately 11,250 photovoltaic panels and 70 invertors, which would produce enough energy to supply over 1,500 homes. The installations will reduce carbon emissions by 23% at the Castanheira factory and by 19% at the Azambuja recycling plant. Energy provider EDP designed and delivered both projects, and worked closely with Exide on the energy storage component. The bank of Sonnenschein gel batteries provides 500kWh of storage.

High-performance energy storage

The Sonnenschein A600 gel battery has been proven over decades of use in complex, large-scale network power applications. It is manufactured in Exide’s European production facilities to the highest grade of reliability, and is designed for deployment in tough operating conditions. The original gel technology is maintenance free and offers first-class safety features. The battery uses a tubular plate design and offers a long service life and protection against deep discharge. It is also completely recyclable, making the product a strong environmental choice.

 “Our Castanheira plant is one of the largest installations of its kind, and shows what can be achieved by combining solar with high-performance energy storage technology. I would like to thank the teams from Exide and EDP who worked on the project,” said Stefan Stübing, CEO and President of Exide Technologies. “More companies will rely on storage-backed self-generated power in the years ahead, and we are excited to be at the forefront of this trend. Our Sonnenschein A600 gel battery technology is extremely capable in this application.”

Key Facts

• Combined capacity of 4.5 MWp across the production and recycling facilities
• Carbon emissions reduced by more than 20% across both sites
• Energy produced would supply over 1,500 homes
• 11,250 photovoltaic panels and 70 invertors
• Bank of Sonnenschein gel batteries provide 500 kWh of storage

Trademark notice

Exide and Sonnenschein are registered trademarks of Exide Technologies. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About EDP Comercial

A leader in the Portuguese solar energy market, EDP Commercial has deployed more than 40,000 photovoltaic solar systems in private homes and companies across the country, with a total installed capacity of 100 MWp. EDP Comercial is the preferred energy marketer for more than 4 million residential and business customers in Portugal.