The Centre for Energy Research (EK-CER) in Budapest, Hungary, has placed an order for NAS batteries from Japanese company NGK Insulators.
The NAS battery is a megawatt level energy storage system containing cells with a sodium-based negative electrode and a sulfur-based positive electrode. NGK claims the NAS battery is the first commercial large-capacity battery for energy storage with almost unlimited scalability. Other features are high energy density and long service life. NAS batteries are supplied in standard 20’ containers including AC/DC power conversion systems.
The Hungarian project is in co-operation with engineering company Duna Center Therm Uzemi Szolgaltato Kft. The batteries will be used for a demonstration plant and NAS technology was chosen because of the ability to store and discharge large amounts of electricity over a long time.
Hungary has set a goal of converting 90% of its generated power to low carbon sources by 2030. Investments in the energy sector in the coming period will be five times as large as in the previous seven years. The 1.45 MWh NAS battery unit has eight modules and it is the first of its kind in Hungary.
NGK says that NAS batteries have been chosen for more than 250 energy storage projects all over the world including Japan, Germany, US, Italy and Belgium. The total installed capacity exceeds 700 MW, corresponding to an output of 4.9 GWh.
Hungary seems to be one of the European hotspots in battery technology and production. After recent news about establishment of production plants in Debrecen by the Chinese battery cell manufacturers CATL and EVE Energy, the next step is to intensify research into energy storage.
