The largest grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the Czech Republic has gone online, supplied by a company invested in by lithium-ion OEM CATL.
The Modlany Energy Park combines 42.7MW of solar PV with a 37.95 MW/41.7 MWh BESS, the largest in the country. It takes the crown from a 30MW system commissioned by IPP Decci Group in 2024
BESS supplier Contemporary Nebula Technology Energy (CNTE) provided 11 of its CNTE STAR T-285 liquid-cooled containers, each rated at 3.45MW/3.793MWh. The STAR T is designed for 1P charging and discharging and 1-4-hour durations.
CNTE was founded by Huang Shilin, who is the co-founder and former vice chairman of CATL, which holds a 20% stake in CNTE. Shilin left his position at CATL in 2022, but remains a significant shareholder in CATL.
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Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for the Modlany project was provided by contractor Greenbuddies, which announced its completion in May. It is located on a former mining site.
The project will provide fast-response frequency regulation and grid balancing services to the Czech energy system, as well as trade in the energy market.
It appears to be owned by the Katemo Group, which says on its website that its BESS capacity could be increased in future to 130MWh. The project as a whole is the result of CZK1.2 billion (US$57 million).
The largest BESS player in the Czech Republic (also known as Czechia) that we are aware of is Second Foundation. The energy trader-turned project owner claims to be commissioning 307MW/620MWh of BESS capacity this year.
Like numerous other countries in Southern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), the grid-scale storage market has been kickstarted by a grant scheme using EU funds. The European Commission approved Czechia’s last year, which will put CZK7 billion in direct grants to projects totalling at least 1,500MWh.
