SoliTek launches smart battery production line in Lithuania

SoliTek, one of the largest manufacturers of solar modules in Northern Europe, has officially opened a new production facility in Vilnius. During the opening ceremony, the only production line for Nova smart batteries in the Baltic States was also launched, with the first battery module produced in just 7 minutes. 

The opening event was attended by important people such as His Excellency the President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, the European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, the Minister of the Environment Simonas Gentvilas, the Minister of the Interior Agnė Bilotaitė, and the President of Business Europe, an organisation of entrepreneurs from 34 European countries Fredrik Persson.

“A few years ago, we noticed an emerging need for devices that would give individuals greater energy independence by allowing them to store electricity and always have access to it. I am delighted that together with our foreign partners we have managed to develop a sustainable, safe, high quality, smart and visually appealing product, which today is being launched on a production line—the first in the Baltic States,” said Julius Sakalauskas, CEO of SoliTek, one of the hosts of the opening event.

Outperforming many market competitors

Speaking about the advantages of the smart energy storage system or battery Nova, Mr Sakalauskas pointed out that it can store up to 40 kWh of energy, which is one of the largest capacities of home batteries on the market.

This battery helps maximise the full capacity of the solar power plant and guarantees the supply of electricity in the event of a public grid outage for various reasons. It also has a “back-up” function that operates in three-phase mode and allows to power three-phase appliances such as heat pumps in the event of a grid failure.

Nova solves the dilemma that many people have about where to put the excess electricity generated by a solar power plant during the day and how to use it during the dark hours of the day, when generation is not taking place. It also helps save money by using AI to track and analyse data on the power exchange and buy power at the lowest prices. This reduces the consumer’s energy bills, saving up to 13% of energy costs per year on average,” said Mr Sakalauskas.

He added that the smart battery developed by SoliTek is low-voltage, making it safer, and can artificially increase the user’s input power. This backup power source can be used to install a solar power plant with a higher capacity than grid restrictions allow, when ESO does not grant conditions for the expansion of existing solar power plants or grants permission for a solar power plant with insufficient capacity.

Mentions of the opening of a unique building

The opening of the Business and Innovation Centre was also celebrated during the event. This highly innovative and exceptionally energy-efficient building is designed for innovators in science, high-tech, medicine and pharmaceuticals. It is also home to the new SoliTek factory, which will develop and manufacture energy storage devices and solar modules.

Research companies such as Nomands and LT Biotech are already successfully operating in the centre. Caszyme, a biotech company offering CRISPR gene editing solutions, is also in the pipeline. Guests attending the SoliTek plant opening event were invited to visit the company and get a closer look at the technology it is developing, which has been widely used in a variety of research applications, for the construction of model organisms, the breeding of new plant species, and is currently being tested for the treatment of genetic diseases.

“Our Business and Innovation Centre is one of the first A++ energy class industrial buildings with offices in Lithuania. And it is as self-sustained as possible, since almost all the energy needed for heating or cooling and for production processes will come from renewable energy sources, with more than 850 kW of solar modules installed on the building’s roof and façade,” said Vidmantas Janulevičius, chairman of the board of the high-tech company Global BOD Group.

He added that the building is planned to be equipped with a 3.3 MWh energy storage system, which will ensure its independence from any fluctuations in electricity prices and will be able to operate autonomously for up to one month without external power supply if needed. For this reason, according to Mr Janulevičius, this building represents a new step in the market for office and research buildings.