10.04.2015 – 11:32

Leclanché SA

EQS-News: Leclanché SA: Younicos and Leclanché partner on Graciosa project

EQS Group-News: Leclanché SA / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
Leclanché SA: Younicos and Leclanché partner on Graciosa project

10.04.2015 / 11:30

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Younicos and Leclanché partner on Graciosa project

Leclanché joins Younicos in delivering a world-leading renewable
energy-powered micro-grid solution to La Graciosa.

Berlin/Austin/Yverdon-les-Bains, 10 April 2015: Swiss battery manufacturer
Leclanché is to play a key role in the game-changing renewable energy
project currently being developed in Graciosa by Younicos, a
German-American specialist in renewable energy integration. Leclanché will
provide the complete Battery Energy Storage Solution (BESS), using its
industry-leading lithium-ion batteries, which will be combined with
Younicos Energy Management software. Additionally, an affiliate of
Recharge, one of Leclanché's largest shareholders, will provide EUR3.5M in
convertible debt financing to the project's operating company Graciolica, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Younicos. Both announcements are milestones that
will help accelerate implementation of the project in the coming weeks and
will ensure substantial progress during the course of 2015.

The world's first megawatt-scale renewable energy plus storage system,
currently being built on the island of Graciosa in the Azores (Portugal),
will set new standards for islands worldwide. Furthermore, by stabilizing
the grid without the rotating mass of a conventional thermal engine, the
system will enable the grid to be fully powered by wind and solar energy.
The centerpiece of the system is a fully automated, intelligently managed
2.8 megawatt battery park integrated into the intelligent energy management
system developed by Younicos. In addition, the system will incorporate wind
(4.5 MW) and solar (1 MW) power resources, and intelligent inverters. The
renewable energy-powered grid will boost the island's annual share of
renewable energies, from a previous limit of 15 percent to up to 65 percent
and thus allow the island to reduce its dependence on fuel imports.

James P. McDougall, CEO of Younicos, on teaming with Leclanché: "This is an
exciting partnership on many levels. We have long been intrigued by
Leclanché's BESS and are confident that - coupled with our software - it
will provide an extremely stable backbone of a fundamentally new energy
system. At the same time, working with an industry-leading battery
manufacturer such as Leclanché, and with Recharge as financing partner,
underscores the ability of Younicos to lead micro-grid projects worldwide."

Anil Srivastava, CEO of Leclanché, commenting on the deal: "We are very
excited to team up with Younicos for this truly innovative island solution.
We are confident that our wide range of BESS, seamlessly integrated with
Younicos' global leading Energy Management Software, will make this project
a reference in the industry. This is a strong validation of Leclanché's
growth strategy and of its position as a leader in this high potential,
fast-growing competitive market. We commend Recharge for its vision to
invest in this ground-breaking project and are honored to work together to
successfully carry out the renewable energy transformation on Graciosa."

About Younicos
Younicos is a global leader for intelligent storage and grid solutions. Our
clients benefit from our technical expertise, commercial know-how and
in-depth experience based on nearly 100 megawatts installed in more than 20
energy storage projects worldwide. The company was founded in 2005 in
Berlin, Germany. Currently it employs more than 120 storage enthusiasts
there and in Kyle and Austin, Texas (USA).

About Leclanché
Established in 1909 Leclanché has been a reliable partner for battery
storage technologies. Founded in the tradition of Georges Leclanché, the
inventor of the dry cell battery, Leclanché today has a rich portfolio of
Energy Storage Systems that include Specialized Customer-specific Battery
Systems to industry leading lithium-ion solutions.

Through the integration of a spin-off of the German Fraunhofer Institute in
2006 the company evolved from a traditional battery producer into one of
the first developers and manufacturers of lithium-ion cells in Europe.

Leclanché's Storage Solutions are optimized for various applications, in
particular for the integration of renewable energy, diesel fuel reduction,
electricity grid-connected ancillary services, peak power shaving for heavy
industries but also for heavy duty transportation in buses, trams, trains
or maritime vessels.

Leclanché products are characterized by a very high cycle stability (cells
with titanate anode) and long service life. Thanks to our patented
separator technology, which is a core element of lithium ion cells with
titanate anode, Leclanché is able to make cells with very good safety
characteristics in automated production. Leclanché operates a fully
automated plant for the production of large format lithium-ion cells at an
annual maximum capacity of up to 175MWh or up to one million cells.

In addition, Leclanché offers a number of specialized battery systems
through its Portable Business Unit, such as customer-specific energy
storage systems for military and medical applications. Leclanché also
distributes primary and secondary batteries and accessories of other
producers.

Leclanché, which is quoted on the Swiss stock exchange (SIX:LECN), has a
wide range of storage products for homes, small offices, large industries,
electricity grids, hybridization for mass transport systems like fleet of
buses, trams etc.

Press contact Younicos
Philip Hiersemenzel 
press@younicos.com
+49-174-9088188

Press contact Leclanché
Rohan Sant 
rohan.sant@voxia.ch
+41 79 120 00 28



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Language:    English
Company:     Leclanché SA
             Av. des Sports 42
             1400 Yverdon-les-Bains
             Switzerland
Phone:       +41 (24) 424 65-00
Fax:         +41 (24) 424 65-20
E-mail:       investors@leclanche.com
Internet: www.leclanche.com
ISIN:        CH0110303119, CH0016271550
Valor:       A1CUUB, 812950
Listed:      Foreign Exchange(s) SIX


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