Netherlands-based BESS developer Giga Storage has unveiled a 600MW/2,400MWh project it is developing in neighbouring Belgium, one of the largest planned projects in Europe.
Called ‘Green Turtle’, it would be located in Dilsen-Stokkem adjacent to a new 380kV high-voltage substation run by transmission system operator (TSO) Elia. The location is along a high-voltage line from Van Eyck to Gramme while also being connected to the grid of the Netherlands.
In the announcement, Joeri Siborgs, general manager GIGA Storage Belgium, said: “This project is being developed on an industrial site where there was a previous initiative to develop a battery. The permit application has been submitted, and we expect to commence construction in 2024. GIGA Storage aims to achieve the realisation of 3GW of battery storage in Belgium by 2030.”
The project is among the largest being developed in Europe that Energy-Storage.news is aware of and would go a long way to helping Elia integrate more intermittent renewable generation onto the grid in Belgium.
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The location appears very similar to a previously announced 300MW/1,200MWh project from Giga Storage, however a spokesperson told Energy-Storage.news they are different projects.
Belgium has regularly been praised for its facilitation of the grid-scale energy storage market – including handing out capacity market contracts to large-scale BESS – while major challenges to getting the Netherlands’ one off the ground have also been cited numerous times.
Dutch utility Eneco is set to commission a 200MWh BESS in Belgium, it announced last year whilst calling for more to be done by its own government, while France-based utility Engie is looking to deploy large-scale projects totalling 380MW in Belgium.
The largest project in progress in the Netherlands that we are aware of is a 250MW/1,000MWh BESS but, as reported by Energy-Storage.news, the local municipality is having to amend its local zoning regulations to help it progress.
Concurrent to Giga’s announcement of its project in Belgium, another developer S4 Energy announced a deal with Telsa for 12 Megapacks for a 11MW/44MWh project in the Netherlands. The project will be a hybrid installation combining batteries and a flywheel.
Energy-Storage.news’ publisher Solar Media will host the 9th annual Energy Storage Summit EU in London, 20-21 February 2024. This year it is moving to a larger venue, bringing together Europe’s leading investors, policymakers, developers, utilities, energy buyers and service providers all in one place. Visit the official site for more info.
