Nidec ASI (Formerly Ansaldo Industrial Systems) Awarded Contract by STEAG for 70 Million Euros

MILAN, Nov. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Nidec ASI (formerly Ansaldo Sistemi Industriali) recently signed a contract worth over 70 million Euros with German utility STEAG for the supply of a multi system of energy storage with a total capacity of 90 MW. This system, based on Nidec ASI energy conversion solutions, will use batteries supplied by LG Chem to store electrical energy, which the utility will use to ensure the stability of Germany's electricity network.

Nidec ASI will take on the role of Main Contractor (EPC), responsible for the installation and commissioning of the plants.

Every Nidec ASI system will provide six 15 MW systems, each containing 5 units of 3 MW. All systems consist of power converters, a transformer, batteries and the control system -- a key element for energy management -- which are mounted inside the container for easy transportation and installation in a "plug and play" solution.

Nidec ASI was awarded the contract due to its accumulation of excellent references in recent years in the "utility scale" sector. The enterprise is one of the first companies in the world to focus and invest in technology in this rapidly-expanding sector as part of its growth strategy. Over the last two years, Nidec ASI has delivered solutions worldwide. Notable projects include those produced for the French islands -- including La Réunion, Corsica, and French Guiana -- as well as the significant and innovative experience in Italy with Terna and Enel Green Power overseas, where Nidec ASI built a smart microgrid in Chile.

For the project commissioned by the German power giant STEAG, Nidec ASI will install the systems in North-Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland, two key regions of Germany.

"We are among world leaders in this growing market segment, where large customers recognize the strength of our references and our technology in such an important field of electricity grid management," commented Giovanni Barra, CEO of Nidec ASI. "Nidec ASI's technical solutions have proved to be highly reliable and efficient, even in adverse conditions, in supplying energy from various sources, both renewable and conventional. European electricity producers and distributors -- including GDF in France, STEAG and DREWAG in Germany and Terna in Italy -- in addition to Enel Green Power in South America have relied on Nidec ASI's experience for their electricity stabilization systems and smart microgrid management."

Barra added: "The planned closure of all nuclear power plants in Germany by 2022 poses a significant technological challenge in the transport and storage of electricity from multiple sources. Nidec ASI provides the technological innovation of its management system and storage control, which allows the release of electricity to the grid within milliseconds to strengthen its stability, and also offers experience in managing such complex projects."

STEAG's primary objective for this project is to drive the energy transition in Germany. "The assignment of this contract is a confirmation that Italian technology still plays an important role in Europe's economic recovery," stated the company's CEO.

A key factor of Nidec ASI's success is its innovative control system, or Power Management System (PMS), developed through extensive experience and international references in the field.

How the System Works

The electric energy storage systems are based on several key elements. A system of electrochemical batteries is connected to the main grid via a drive system developed by Nidec ASI. The electricity is stored in batteries or fed into the grid through the inverter. The system stores energy when there is excess production, feeding it back to the grid when demand exceeds the availability. This mechanism stabilizes the network, avoiding sudden power imbalances that could cause a blackout. These storage systems must act in real time and in perfect sync with the frequency and voltage of the electricity grid. The innovative technology of Nidec ASI's control system and inverters, together with the capacity of the batteries, allow fast response time to variations in load with high precision. Nidec ASI developed this control system (PMS) based on 50 years of experience in providing power electronics for industries. Operating worldwide and in areas that require a strong focus on energy flows, such as the steel industry, it has extensive experience in the management of electricity to-and-from power grids, cleanly. For this project, Nidec ASI has worked closely with LG Chem, which has provided new generation lithium-ion batteries, developed specifically for this type of application.

Nidec ASI

Nidec ASI was founded in 2012 when Nidec, a Japanese multinational corporation listed on the U.S. and Japanese Stock Exchanges, acquired Ansaldo Sistemi Industriali (ASI). ASI, an industrial branch of the Ansaldo Group, was privatized in 2000. Nidec ASI established itself as a provider of customized client solutions worldwide for a range of industrial applications. Its markets include petrochemical, energy, steel, naval engineering, and industrial automation. The company specializes in heavy-duty applications requiring high power and performance, inverter and converter power electronics, software and automation of industrial processes, central electrical retrofits and hydroelectric generators.

Nidec ASI has a portfolio of more than 300 million Euros in 2015, with machines installed over a history of 100 years in four continents, particularly in the Middle East and Asia. The multinational corporation provides client support and manages orders through offices in North America, France, Germany, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Southeast Asia, Russia, China and Japan.

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SOURCE Nidec ASI