These are the top four largest battery energy storage systems in Europe
The GIGA Green Turtle- Belgium
The GIGA Green Turtle is a 600MW/2,400 MWh battery energy storage system project that received approval earlier this year for construction. It will be the largest system if it can receive financing and begin construction. The GIGA Green Turtle will be located in Dilsen-Stokkem in eastern Belgium and is positioned adjacent to a new 380 kV high-voltage station run by transmission system operator Elia. It will feature 20 batteries, each with an inverter and 185 medium voltage transformers. Additionally, it will have 5 high-voltage transformers with a capacity of 1,500 MVA. The facility will store the average energy consumption of 330,000 families annually and feed it back to the electricity grid.
Construction is aimed to begin in 2025 and be completed by 2028. Moreover, a planting zone around the battery park will be provided, covering 25,650 square meters.
Also Read:Â Encavis AG constructs its first Battery Energy Storage System in Germany
The Alfeld Facility – Germany
The recently approved Alfeld Facility in Germany is a 275 MW battery energy storage system that was recently approved for construction in Lower Saxony, Germany. The facility will store enough energy to power a million households for an hour. The project recently received approval for construction and is expected to be completed and operational by 2025.
Kyon Energy is the company behind this project that will store surplus energy from renewable sources and feed it back to the grid as required. This will assist in controlling power prices by capturing excess electricity during periods of low demand and dispatching it when prices are high. The energy company has commissioned over 120 MW of storge projects within the past two year.
Sheaf Energy Park – United Kingdom
The Sheaf Energy Park is a 249 MW/ 373.5 MWh project currently under construction in Kent, England. Construction begun in 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2025. The project was first proposed and planned by Tupa Energy Limited before being acquired by Pacific Green Technologies for £7.5 million. The project will add to Pacific Green’s first Battery Energy Storage System, the 99.98 MW Richborough Energy Park which connected to the grid last year. Once completed, it will be among the largest batteries in the UK and will have an operating life of 35 years.
The RWE North Rhine-Westphalia Energy Park – Germany
The North Rhine-Westphalia energy park is a 220 MW project that is under construction in Germany. It is expected to be completed later this year. The project involves the construction of 2 separate power plants at Neurath and Hamm. 690 lithium-ion battery blocks will be installed at these sites with a capacity of 80 MW and 140 MW respectively. The batteries will be networked virtually with RWE’s German power plants to enable optimal management and provide balancing energy. The prefabricated batteries will be installed in cabinet form, utilizing surfaces that are already available, and will be connected to existing grid infrastructure.
The total investment for this project is estimated to be around 140 million euros. The project North Rhine-Westphalia Energy Park covers an area of 21,000 square meters and will be commissioned later this year. By opting for the sites of its existing power plants, RWE is able to take advantage of the synergy of combined technologies.
