As the global battery industry expands at remarkable speed, Saft, France’s long‑established manufacturer of complete battery systems, is positioning itself at the heart of Europe’s energy transition.
Michael Lippert, director of innovations and solutions for Saft’s Energy Storage System division, discusses how the company’s technology, projects and research are helping shape the new energy landscape.
Why are battery energy storage systems (BESS) attracting so much attention right now?
As renewables like wind and solar grow to significant shares of the global electricity mix, storage becomes indispensable for balancing supply and demand, maintaining security of supply, and keeping grids stable.
BESS help avoid congestion and curtailment of renewable generation and provide essential grid‑stabilisation functions such as virtual inertia and voltage support. From a business perspective, we are seeing steadily improving opportunities for revenue generation.
Variable renewables create volatile pricing spreads that make arbitrage attractive; large power consumers want firm, clean energy through 24/7 power purchase agreements (PPAs) that require storage; and new flexibility and capacity mechanisms are emerging worldwide. Added to that, BESS is becoming an increasingly cost-effective option, so it’s easy to see why storage has become so prominent in the conversation.
Saft was recently selected to build a 1GWh energy storage system in Fukushima, Japan. What can you tell us about that project?
The site design makes it possible to install a GWh‑scale system on just two hectares, using nearly 300 modular building blocks that are factory‑assembled and tested before deployment. Cyber security and performance are paramount, so all electronics from cell to system level are developed by Saft and sourced in Europe.
You now offer several containerised BESS products: Intensium Flex, Shift and Max. How do these address different market needs?
Intensium Flex is our newest, seventh‑generation, system. Its energy density is around 10 times higher than our first Intensium container back in 2012, and it targets large utility‑scale projects with discharge durations of two hours, four hours, or more.
Intensium Shift remains available for smaller behind‑the‑meter industrial sites that require finer scaling. And Intensium Max is suited to one‑ or two‑hour applications where grid services or short‑duration backup are most important.
How does Saft distinguish itself from major competitors such as Tesla or BYD?
Energy density matters, but what truly differentiates us is how we design and deliver complete, factory‑tested systems. We control every step, from cell qualification to full‑scale system engineering, manufacturing, and supply‑chain management.
Having operated in this field for two decades, we know how to build complex systems that perform safely and reliably over long lifetimes. That reputation for reliability and safety is our biggest strength.
Long‑duration energy storage (LDES) is a hot topic. How are you preparing for this market?
It’s important to remember that lithium‑ion systems remain very competitive for any intra‑day duration. We adapt our system design for markets that now need six, eight or even 10‑hour discharge, mainly by optimising the power components.
Today, the majority of demand is met by iron‑phosphate (LFP) technology, which underpins our current offering. We’re also exploring sodium‑ion as a potential alternative, and, more fundamentally, investigating next‑generation chemistries based on abundant materials such as zinc or sulphur.
So, we continue to push lithium‑ion to its full capability while preparing the next chapters of energy storage beyond it.
Do you see profitable opportunities emerging in storage markets, and how does Saft manage project risk?
Market conditions clearly influence profitability. During the post‑Covid energy crisis, for example, high electricity prices and evolving capacity markets created exceptional returns for storage operators.
Saft is not a BESS operator – we supply and sometimes maintain them for our customers. That means we’re shielded from market volatility but actively support clients throughout project life, helping them with expansions, reconfigurations or recovery after natural events. We see long‑term trust as essential to our business.
How important are batteries in balancing Europe’s power system?
They’re essential. Our technologies make it possible to store renewable electricity, stabilise networks, and thereby facilitate electrification across the economy. Whether through stationary systems at grid level or mobile applications in transport, batteries bring the flexibility required to integrate more low‑carbon energy.
Where is the market focus today: large grid‑connected projects or smaller behind‑the‑meter applications?
Both segments are important and complementary. For large‑scale systems on the grid, storage supports renewable growth – particularly solar – by ensuring flexibility and stability.
At the same time, smaller ‘behind‑the‑meter’ uses are expanding quickly in buildings, industrial sites and especially data centres. Here, the goal is not just self‑consumption and resilience, but also flexibility toward the grid and lower carbon footprints. Our Enershift system, designed for industrial sites, illustrates how storage can enhance both environmental and economic performance.
And on the chemistry side, what’s most promising for the near and longer term?
Iron‑phosphate (LFP) is today’s workhorse – it’s safe, cost‑effective and suited to most stationary storage needs. Sodium‑ion could become a practical alternative in the medium term, offering advantages in resource availability. Over the longer run, we’ll see more exploration of materials like zinc and sulphur. But it’s too early to declare a winner.
The key is to keep improving lifespan, safety and sustainability while ensuring supply‑chain resilience. That’s the guiding principle behind all our R&D programs.
Looking ahead, where do you see Saft’s priorities and growth?
Our goal is to stay among the world’s top battery‑storage integrators, growing profitably across segments and regions. Our long‑standing base in the United States gives us an excellent platform for high‑domestic‑content systems in that market, while we continue expanding in Europe, Asia and emerging regions such as the Middle East, India and Africa.
We also see strong potential in data centres. We’ve already delivered a pioneering battery‑based microgrid for Microsoft’s Stackbo data centre, and with our global microgrid experience, we’re well placed to serve this fast‑growing segment.
