ENGIE has begun building one of Europe’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at its Vilvoorde site in Belgium.The project, approved in July 2023 and selected for capacity remuneration in October 2023, has an installed capacity of 200 MW on a 3.5-hectare site.
The BESS will store 800 MWh of energy in 320 battery modules, providing electricity for 96,000 households for four hours.
ENGIE will complete the project in two phases: 100 MW by September 2025 and another 100 MW by January 2026. Additionally, ENGIE has a 15-year contract with Elia, the national grid operator, for this project. ENGIE is also developing two other BESS projects in Belgium: Kallo (100 MW / 400 MWh) and Drogenbos (80 MW / 320 MWh).
This project aligns with ENGIE’s commitment to integrating renewable energy and achieving 10 GW of installed battery capacity worldwide by 2030. Sébastien Arbola, Executive Vice President in charge of Flex Gen & Retail activities, said: “With the growing share of renewable energies in the energy mix, the contribution of Battery Energy Storage Systems to ensuring the reliability and security of energy systems is becoming crucial. Batteries will enable the absorption of peaks in renewable energy production, and the release of this energy when production is lower and consumption higher. These flexibility solutions will thus help accelerate the development of renewable energies and the energy transition.
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