Saft Li-ion batteries boost autonomy for Airwave`s roof

Saft Li-ion batteries boost autonomy for Airwave’s
roof-top base stations in London
Saft’s lightweight and compact Evolion® battery modules have enabled Airwave to maintain the
battery capacity at critical telecom base stations across London without the need to reinforce roof
structures.
Paris, November 26, 2014 – Saft Evolion® Lithium-ion (Li-ion) telecom battery modules have been
deployed by Airwave, the leading provider of mission critical voice and data communications in
Great Britain, at six roof-top base stations across London as part of a network upgrade. The use of
Saft’s ultra-compact, lightweight maintenance-free Evolion batteries has enabled Airwave to
maintain the autonomy of its mission critical base stations by reducing the overall weight of the
backup battery installed at each site by some 1,200 kg – equivalent to a medium-sized car.
“It is imperative that we take into consideration the autonomy of the Airwave Network when
increasing capacity, as this ensures continuity of service in the event of a disruption in the mains
supply,” says Martin Benké, Network Operations Director at Airwave. “The use of the batteries also
paved the way for a new direct current (DC) cooling system, designed by our Airwave engineers to
further ensure that the base stations operate at safe temperatures during mains outages.”
Saft delivered an innovative solution in the form of its Evolion telecom battery modules developed
to offer exceptional energy density in terms of both volume and weight. This made it possible to
replace the existing site batteries with up to 16 Evolion modules connected in parallel to create a
48 V battery system capable of providing around 62 kWh of backup - but weighing in at just 480 kg.
‘The batteries are compatible with existing telecom equipment, so installation and commissioning
was very straightforward. Being light weight was an added benefit as they could be carried by hand
to the roof, with no need for heavy lifting equipment.’ says Martin Benké.
In addition to their size, weight, temperature range and efficiency advantages, the Evolion modules
provide a long service life and fast and easy installation, while also being totally maintenance-free
with smart communications that contribute to an optimised Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
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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 3,800 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
Press contacts:
Saft
Jill Ledger, Corporate Communication and Institutional Director
Tel.: +33 1 49 93 17 77, e-mail: [email protected]
Marie-Christine Guihéneuf, IBG Communication Manager
Tel.: +33 1 49 93 17 16, e-mail: [email protected]
Six Degrees
Andrew Bartlett, Tel.: +44 118 900 0860, e-mail: [email protected]
Brunswick
Julien Trosdorf, Tel.: +33 1 53 96 83 95
Benoît Grange, Tel.: +33 1 53 96 83 89
e-mail: [email protected]
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