• CEB, the power utility, is replacing the lead-acid backup batteries at all 34 substations in Brazil’s capital city with Saft Uptimax nickel battery systems.
• During a one year contract Saft will design, manufacture and supply 68 battery banks and first deliveries to CEB started in June 2016.

Paris, October 4th, 2016

– Saft, world leader in the design, development and manufacture of high technology batteries for industry, has been awarded a major contract by the Brazilian power utility CEB (Companhia Energetica de Brasilia) to design, manufacture and supply maintenance-free nickel backup battery systems for all 34 distribution substations serving Brasilia, the country’s capital city. The Saft Uptimax batteries are replacing the existing lead-acid batteries at the CEB substations to provide a significant increase in reliability and availability while reducing battery maintenance and replacement costs.

Brasilia is the Federal Capital of Brazil and the seat of government for the country’s Federal District. CEB controls electric power distribution, generation and transmission assets covering an area of over 5,280 square kilometers, providing service to over 990,000 clients and nearly 2.9 million residents.

The substation backup batteries play a critical role for CEB by ensuring a continuous 125 V supply to support all the auxiliary loads such as switchgear, automation and protection circuits for up to 10 hours    if there is an interruption to the main power supply. Previously, the substations have been fitted with lead-acid batteries. However, this is a particularly demanding application with ambient temperatures reaching + 35°C that contribute to the risk of unpredictable, premature battery failure.

To ensure total reliability of its backup systems CEB has now implemented a one-year program to replace the batteries at all 34 of its distribution substations with Saft Uptimax batteries. These batteries feature Saft’s latest development in nickel pocket plate technology that delivers maintenance-free operation with a long, completely predictable service life even at elevated temperatures.

“Ensuring continuity of customer supply is a mission critical aspect of CEB’s power distribution business. That’s why we have made the decision to purchase nickel backup batteries for the first time in our company history”, said Arthur Franklin, Substations maintenance manager of CEB. “This switch to Saft batteries gives us renewed confidence that our substation backup systems will always perform as required, whenever they are called upon.”

Each CEB substation will be fitted with two battery banks, so Saft is supplying a total of 68 Uptimax systems comprising 96 cells ranging in capacity from 100 to 170 Ah. The one-year contract reinforces Saft’s presence in Brazil’s developing utilities market. The first systems were delivered to CEB in June 2016.

About Saft

Saft is a world leading designer and manufacturer of advanced technology batteries for industry. The Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of nickel batteries and primary lithium batteries for the industrial infrastructure and processes, transportation, civil and military electronics’ markets. Saft is the world leader in space and defense batteries with its Li-ion technologies which are also deployed in the energy storage, transportation and telecommunication network markets. More than 4,000 employees in 19 countries, 14 manufacturing sites and an extensive sales network all contribute to accelerating the Group’s growth for the future.
Saft batteries. Designed for industry.  www.saftbatteries.com

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Saft
Karen Hollington, Corporate Communication Manager
Tel.: +33 1 49 93 17 68, e-mail: karen.hollington@saftbatteries.com

Dominique Le Baron, Industrial Standby Communication Manager
Tel.: +33 1 49 93 17 13, e-mail: dominique.lebaron@saftbatteries.com

French | West | Vaughan
Rachel Hollar, Tel.: +1-919-277-1169, e-mail: rhollar@fwv-us.com

Six Degrees
Andrew Bartlett, Tel.: +44 118 900 0860, e-mail: andrew.bartlett@sixdegreespr.com