Construction has started on Return’s 100 MW / 200 MWh Antares battery energy storage system (BESS) planned to connect to the Netherlands’ TenneT high-voltage grid in 2026. Vattenfall has also signed an agreement to operate Return’s Antares BESS being developed in the Waddinxveen region in southern Netherlands.
Antares BESS Project Factsheet
Location: Waddinxveen, Southern Netherlands
Developer: Return
Cost: €85 million
Capacity: 100 MW / 200 MWh
Technical and project delivery contractors: Alfen and SPIE Nederland
Project financiers: ING, Meewind and Nationaal Groenfonds
Capacity off-taker(s): Vattenfall
Start of construction: April 2025
Project commissioning date: Mid-2026
More on the Netherlands Antares BESS Construction
Construction of the 100 MW / 200 MWh Antares BESS project in the Netherlands will play an important role in the stabilization of the electricity grid. Additionally, with a capacity of 200 MWh, the large-scale BESS project can power half of the city of Hague.
Once commissioned in mid-2026, Antares will join one of Europe’s largest BESS project, the 364 MW / 1457 MW Mufasa project also developed by Return. Together, they will accelerate Netherlands transition to renewable energy. The Antares BESS project will also be the second largest in Netherlands after the Mufasa.
The Netherlands Antares BESS Construction Cost
Of the financiers, Netherlands-based ING is providing the largest sum of the €85 million. Meewind and Nationaal Groenfonds also provided additional funds to the project. This, according to Return, underscores their commitment to “making energy storage a central pillar of Europe’s energy future”.
Vattenfall as a capacity off-taker
Being developed at a cost of €85 million, the Antares BESS project will serve both locals and other bigger industry players. A bigger industry player joining the project is Vattenfall.
The energy company has partnered with Return for a 50 MW / 100 MWh share of the Antares BESS project once operational. Also, the contract will be carried out over a period of 8 years. A move Vattenfall says is, gaining momentum as it also strives to develop its own battery storage projects. Vattenfall’s ambition is scaled at up to 1.5 GW of external BESS capacity for connection to the Northwest Europe’s electricity market in the coming years.
Future on Return’s BESS projects
While making a statement on Antares BESS project’s design that incorporates flexibility that allows for grid optimization, future plans were also brought to light. These radiated in the spectrum of having 7 GW of their BESS portfolio online by 2032, to delivering at least 3 GW of energy storage by 2030.
