Saft to supply 122 MWh of Axpo battery storage across two French sites

Saft, the battery specialist wholly owned by TotalEnergies, has been awarded two contracts by Swiss energy company Axpo to deliver battery energy storage systems totaling 122 MWh in France.

The agreement, announced in Paris on October 6, 2026, covers a 92 MWh / 41 MW project at Orbec in Normandy and a 30 MWh / 14 MW project at Bois Paillet in the Centre-Val de Loire region.

A Landmark Collaboration for Long-Term Partnership in France

The deal represents the first time the two companies have worked together, and both describe it as a significant step in France that lays the groundwork for a long-term partnership. Deliveries are scheduled for early 2027.

How the two projects will be built

Under the agreements, Saft will provide fully integrated BESS solutions at both sites. The Orbec installation will consist of 18 Intensium Flex battery containers rated at 92 MWh / 41 MW, while Bois Paillet will feature 6 Intensium Flex containers rated at 30 MWh / 14 MW.

Both systems come with power conversion equipment and advanced energy management systems. Once operational, the systems are designed to deliver energy arbitrage and ancillary services to the French grid.

Their arrival comes as large-scale storage grows in importance in France, where the expansion of renewable generation is driving demand for the flexibility needed to keep the electricity network stable and reliable.

Technology choices and environmental constraints

Saft states that the projects pair flexibility, performance, and reliability. Its liquid-cooled battery technology is built for intensive cycling and rapid response to shifting grid conditions while maintaining long-term battery performance.

The installations will also be backed by I-Sight, the company's digital monitoring platform, which supports performance optimization, maintenance, and asset management over the systems' lifetime.

Local environmental constraints shaped the design as well. To meet strict noise limits at the sites, the projects include mitigation measures such as low-noise operating modes, optimized cooling management, battery silencers, and dedicated noise barriers.

What the executives said

Vincent Le Quintrec, ESS Sales Director at Saft, said the company was delighted to begin its collaboration with Axpo through these landmark projects in France.

He noted that the projects resulted from strong teamwork and clear alignment between the two companies from the outset, adding that combining ambitious delivery timelines with demanding technical requirements requires trust and close cooperation.

He said Saft is proud to have reached this milestone and looks forward to the execution phase.

Frank Amend, Head of Batteries & Hybrid Systems at Axpo, said the projects mark an important step in expanding Axpo's battery storage portfolio in France.

He said Axpo is pleased to partner with Saft and looks forward to delivering reliable, flexible storage capacity to support the country's energy transition.

The companies behind the deal

Saft designs and manufactures high-performance battery solutions for critical industrial applications and has done so for over 100 years, with energy systems used in safety, back-up power and mobility across land, sea, air, and space.

It is wholly owned by TotalEnergies, a multi-energy company that produces and sells energy in all its forms, including oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gas, renewable energies, and electricity.

Axpo is Switzerland's largest producer of renewable energy and an international energy company with leading positions in energy trading and the marketing of solar and wind power.

Drawing on the experience of around 7,500 employees, the company uses cutting-edge technologies to serve customers in more than 30 countries across Europe, North America, and Asia.