Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies and a global leader in advanced industrial batteries, has inaugurated its EnerShift pilot project in Bordeaux — an innovative 9 MWh energy storage system designed to help industrial sites cut electricity costs, reduce carbon emissions, and support grid stability.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by local and regional officials including Pierre Humic, Mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Rousset, President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and Cédric Duclos, CEO of Saft.
EnerShift at a glance:
- Capacity: 9 MWh, equivalent to powering Saft’s entire Bordeaux industrial site for four hours, including its rail and air battery production line and R&D center.
- Technology: Three 20-foot Li-ion I-Shift batteries (3 MWh each), a converter, and a 10-foot control container — all within the footprint of a tennis court.
- Function: Stores electricity when renewable generation is high (wind, solar) and releases it during peak demand, easing pressure on the grid.
Scalable model: Building on the Bordeaux pilot, Saft plans to replicate the EnerShift model at other industrial sites in France, the United States, and the Czech Republic starting in 2026. The solution is designed as a replicable template for industries worldwide seeking to optimize consumption and decarbonize operations.
Broader impact:
- Participates in France’s MECAPA capacity mechanism, offering curtailment services during winter peaks to secure electricity supply.
- Potential applications in frequency regulation and local flexibility markets in the future.
- Provides “very significant cost savings” for the Bordeaux site amid volatile energy prices driven by global geopolitical tensions.
Cédric Duclos, CEO of Saft, said the project reflects Saft’s century-long innovation ethos. “EnerShift is a concrete solution for industry players to optimize their energy use, cut costs, and reduce carbon footprints. It embodies our commitment to building a more sustainable and efficient energy future,” he noted.
