NHOA.TCC's Fireproof and Fire Extinguishing EnergyArk Passed the Strictest UL 9540 Safety Test, Deploying in Italy in 2024

Taiwan Cement Corporation’s (TCC) subsidiary, NHOA.TCC, made its debut at the world's largest Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2024, showcasing the unique “Energy Storage with EV Charging Station” and “Stable Power Grid Structure” based on the innovative Fireproof and Fire Extinguishing UHPC energy storage cabinet, EnergyArk, which receives enthusiastic responses from clients. NHOA.TCC also announced that EnergyArk has passed the strict UL 9540 energy storage system safety certification test. NHOA.TCC will collaborate with TCC's European subsidiary, Atlante, to build a charging station with energy storage system in Italy in 2024 Q2, which is the first EnergyArk in Europe. In support of NHOA.TCC, TCC's high-end lithium battery company, Molicel, displayed the electric racing car McMurtry Spéirling, powered by Molicel's ultra-high-power lithium battery, transported from the UK by air. The demonstration highlighted that, even with the need for high-power charging, under the "EnergyArk Energy Storage with EV Charging Station" system developed by NHOA.TCC, it can provide stable fast charging without impacting the power grid and guarantee safety.

In the past, Taiwanese companies participating in CES Show mainly focused on electronic products and software. With the rise of clean energy, the Vehicle Tech and Mobility Technology area has gained more attention. International automotive manufacturers such as Hyundai, KIA, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VinFast, as well as well-known charger brands like ABB, EVgo, Chaevi, and Star Charge, are all moving towards high-power charging trends, reaching up to 720 kW and more. However, it is foreseeable that this will impose a significant burden on the grid, making the combination with energy storage equipment even more crucial. European customers revealed that in their countries, issues with power applications for constructing supercharging stations are common, and the process can take up to more than a year. Customers from the U.S., where the CES Show is located, expressed a strong demand for adding energy storage systems to charging stations to stabilize electricity consumption. Especially in the U.S., being a hub for large-scale logistics warehouses, there is a need for supercharging stations that can charge a large number of EV trucks, and commercial vehicles cannot afford to stop operating due to power grid failures. Energy storage and urban microgrid structures have become essential.

Many customers at CES 2024 expressing that the DC to DC integrated charging and storage structure showcased by NHOA.TCC indeed solves the power conversion losses, making energy use more efficient. With proven operational success in Taiwan and Europe, they inquired about when NHOA.TCC will construct the DC to DC charging station with energy storage in the Americas. The EnergyArk, constructed with Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), also became a focal point at the show. Clients said "good idea" and believed that, amidst the rapid climate change globally, the ability of the EnergyArk to resistant extreme weather conditions is crucial.

EnergyArk made its debut at CES, passing the most important international safety standards double testing, preparing for entry into the European and American markets. In October 2023, EnergyArk energy storage system accomplished certification for compliance with the international safety standard IEC 62933-5-2 from UL Solution. This week, EnergyArk became the first indoor/outdoor commercial energy storage system in Taiwan to pass the UL 9540:2023 third edition test, and it is the only energy storage system in Taiwan that has passed UL9540 field application testing. It also fully complies with the NFPA 855 standard of the American Fire Protection Association, covering ventilation explosion protection, external warning communication systems, and more. EnergyArk is created by TCC leveraging its core competitive advantage, using UHPC to achieve fire resistance, heat resistance, and high-strength characteristics. Compared to metal containers, it is corrosion-resistant, leak-proof, resistant to salt damage, and has high weather resistance. EnergyArk comes in three specifications with different battery capacities: 40, 60, and 1000, suitable for various indoor and outdoor sites. EnergyArk is equipped with a self-developed energy management system, ensuring that when the battery overheats, the patented fire extinguishing system automatically activates to completely extinguish the fire by submerging the battery in water while maintaining the integrity of the cabinet.

NHOA.TCC's participation in CES 2024 also included collaborations with global strategic partners. Partners include Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), a UK company that launched a high-performance EV battery module platform; KULR, a US battery safety integration solution provider with experience in aerospace development for NASA; and ZEROVA, our DC-DC charging system development alliance. NHOA.TCC and WAE collaborated to develop scalable battery module with high C-rate charging and discharging, achieving an energy density more than 10% higher than competitors, stacking different voltages and capacities and playing a crucial role in the future layout of urban microgrids. NHOA.TCC and KULR worked together to create extremely safe batteries for energy storage applications. KULR will integrate its patented carbon fiber thermal management technology into the design, testing, and production of battery packs. Chairman of TCC, Nelson An-ping Chang emphasized that energy planning cannot focus solely on the Taiwan market and must possess international market competitiveness. The development of energy storage in Europe and the U.S. is undoubtedly leading the world, and he hopes that partners can join TCC in global carbon reduction efforts, providing future generations with more choices and creating more possibilities for life.