NAS batteries start up at BASF’s Antwerp Verbund site - Test various use cases and business models by long-term operations

NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (“NGK”) announced that the NAS® batteries, which NGK supplied to German chemical group BASF has started operation at BASF’s Antwerp Verbund site (Belgium).

NAS batteries, which has maximum 1,000kW-dc power and 5,800kWh-dc dischargeable energy and consists of four sets of containerized NAS batteries, were ordered by BASF New Business GmbH (“BNB”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of German chemical group BASF. The NAS batteries has been connected to the electricity grid at BASF’s Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium and has started operation in September 2021. This is the first installation of NAS batteries in BASF’s facility.

In 2019, NGK and BNB entered into sales partnership agreement for NAS battery and a joint development agreement for next-generation sodium-sulfur batteries. Since then, NGK has been cooperating with BNB by combining NGK’s expertise in battery design, production with BNB’s outstanding chemistry know-how to market and further develop NAS battery. This project aims at developing optimum business models by BNB’s gaining direct experience in long-term operations of own NAS battery system, learning diverse benefits from the viewpoint of user and examining various use cases. This enables NGK and BNB to advise the customers even more comprehensively in the planning and implementation of their projects and to collect beneficial data for further development.

In its Mid-to Long-term vision “NGK group vision: Road to 2050” formulated in April 2021, NGK identified carbon neutrality as one of its priority social issues. NGK has installed NAS batteries in over 200 locations worldwide, they are used in a variety of applications, including stabilizing renewable energy, and building smart grids. NGK, contributes to the development of renewable energy, reduce environmental load, and realize carbon neutrality, through further sales expansion of NAS batteries.

＜Overview of NAS batteries which started operations>

Installed place              : BASF’s Antwerp Verbund site (Belgium)
Rated power                 : 1,000kW-dc (maximum power)
Dischargeable energy : 5,800kWh-dc (at beginning of life)
Configuration               : four sets of containerized NAS batteries
Operation start            : September 30, 2021

NAS Batteries installed in BASF’s Antwerp Verbund site

■BASF and NGK enter into sales partnership agreement for NAS battery
https://www.ngk-insulators.com...
■BASF and NGK to partner on developing the next generation of sodium-sulfur batteries
https://www.ngk-insulators.com...
■NGK Group Vision
https://www.ngk-insulators.com/en/info...

About BASF New Business

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Also contributing to this corporate purpose is BASF New Business GmbH (BNB), a subsidiary of BASF. The task of BNB is to support the growth targets of BASF by identifying and generating new businesses which are beyond the core business of BASF group but within target portfolio of BASF. BNB is primarily active in arising markets with higher-than-average growth rates. In addition to its head office in Ludwigshafen, Germany, BNB has offices in Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the United States. Founded in 2001, BNB utilizes startup-like structures and methods as well as an extensive internal and external collaboration network. It works closely with future customers to build-up and expand new businesses.
BNB includes the unit Foresight & Scouting as well as Chemovator GmbH, a wholly owned BNB subsidiary based in Mannheim, Germany, which serves as BASF’s internal incubator, offering a protected space for all employees to accelerate speed-to-market for innovative business ideas. In addition, BNB currently has three Business Build-Up units: 3D printing (in the form of wholly owned BNB subsidiary BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH), E-Power Management and Functional Feed Additives.
The activities of BNB are complemented by BASF Venture Capital GmbH (BVC). BVC’s goal is to generate new growth potential for current and future business areas of BASF by investing in young companies and funds.
More information about BASF New Business GmbH can be found at:
www.basf-new-business.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 110,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.