Saft helps utilities take the guesswork out of meter asset

European Utility Week
Vienna, Austria
November 3 - 5 2015
Booth A.h33
Saft helps utilities take the guesswork out of meter asset
management with innovative remaining battery life analysis service
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New service delivers real-life information from batteries operating in the field and provides
utilities with information for informed decision making on asset maintenance and replacement
programmes.
Analysis complements Saft’s battery life modelling capability to provide a complete
understanding of the battery lifecycle.
Vienna, November 2, 2015 – Saft, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of advanced
technology batteries for industry, has launched an innovative battery remaining life analysis service
that now enables utilities to take the guesswork out of their metering asset management decision
making processes. By drawing on real-life information gathered by Saft from batteries installed in their
own fleet of meters, utilities can take fully informed decisions such as keeping meters in service for an
extended period of time or bringing forward a planned replacement programme.
‘Saft is the world leading supplier of primary lithium batteries for metering applications, with unrivalled
experience of over 35 years, based on hundreds of millions of our batteries deployed in the field. This has
enabled us to establish a deep understanding of the many design and operational factors that impact
battery life and to develop mathematical models to help OEMs and utilities estimate a battery’s run
time in their meters. However, lifetime modelling does not address the variances in operating conditions
found within a fleet of meters. Furthermore, the new generation of smart meters with remotely
upgradable software can result in the modification of battery consumption during its operating life, says
Cecile Joannin - Market Manager for Metering, Saft Specialty Battery Group. ‘We have now taken the
next step in understanding the battery lifecycle by introducing this innovative remaining battery life
analysis service that provides detailed information from operational meters out in the field.’
Saft’s remaining life analysis service can be applied to any battery from any manufacturer. It starts by
taking a representative sample of meters from the deployed fleet. The meters are then dismantled and
the batteries removed for laboratory analysis including:
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Mechanical integrity checks
Remaining capacity determination by a specific chemical analysis of the electrodes
Determination of actual state of charge through evaluation of discharged capacity and selfdischarge
Determination of actual state of health by measuring the passivation state and the complex
impedance of the batteries
The information obtained is correlated with life expectancy data to develop an accurate estimate for
the remaining service life of the entire battery fleet.
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www.saftbatteries.com
‘The key aim of our service is to provide utilities with better knowledge and expertise related to the
battery ageing process’, said Jean-Philippe Limal, Saft’s Services Director. ‘This service is already helping
utility network managers to determine their optimum metering asset management strategy by
providing a sound basis for the implementation of condition based maintenance and in planning
replacement programmes. Since the battery is the single most critical factor in the meter, access to
precise information on remaining battery life can play a vital role in securing the availability of utility
metering infrastructure.’
Saft is presenting its Services offer at European Utility Week in Vienna.
About Saft
Saft (Euronext: 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 defence 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 18 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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Press contacts:
Saft
Karen Hollington, Corporate Communication Manager
Tel.: +33 1 49 93 17 68, e-mail: [email protected]
Christelle Nay, Saft SBG Communication Manager
Tel.: +33 5 45 90 37 55, e-mail: [email protected]
Six Degrees
Andrew Bartlett, Tel.: +44 118 900 0860, e-mail: [email protected]
French | West | Vaughan
Melissa Timney, Tel.: +1-919-277-1165, e-mail: [email protected]
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www.saftbatteries.com