Belgium – Eneco, a major energy player, is making a significant investment in a battery energy storage project in Wallonia, Belgium.
The project aims to enhance the efficiency of sustainably generated electricity and balance the country’s electricity grid through the installation of a 50 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system. With the permit secured, the battery ordered, and preparatory study works underway, Eneco plans to have the project operational by the end of 2024.
BESS
The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will consist of 53 Tesla Megapacks, providing a total storage capacity of 50 MW/200 MWh. This system can supply power to the grid for up to 4 hours, helping to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. By offering flexible storage and spare capacity, the battery ensures a balanced power grid and enables efficient utilization of variable solar and wind energy. Eneco is collaborating with Belgian high-voltage grid operator Elia to achieve these objectives.
The Netherlands lags behind
While Eneco’s battery energy storage project marks progress in Belgium, the Netherlands lags behind in battery investments. According to TenneT’s annual report on security of supply, the Netherlands will require at least 10 GW of battery capacity by 2030. Currently, the country has only achieved 0.3 GW of installed capacity. Eneco urges the Dutch government to learn from the successful policies implemented in Belgium and Germany to ensure a climate-neutral electricity supply in the Netherlands by 2035.
