BESS provider Sungrow and power firm Engie have connected the first phase of a 200MW/800MWh project, one of the largest in Europe, to the grid in Belgium.
The battery energy storage system (BESS) in Vilvoorde, Belgium, will use 320 units of Sungrow’s PowerTitan BESS once fully operational, which is scheduled for late 2025 when the second phase of the project connects to the grid.
Moritz Rolf, VP Sungrow Europe, responsible for the business in DACH, Benelux, Nordics and Turkey commented: “Our strategic and successful partnership with ENGIE on the Vilvoorde project, emphasises the important role of battery storage in delivering clean power for all, and strengthens our commitment to the European market.”
The BESS has a 15-year capacity market (CM) contract with transmission system operator (TSO) Elia, and is being co-located with Engie’s existing 870MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant. France-headquartered Engie enlisted Sungrow for the project in July last year.
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Italy-headquartered EV charging and BESS integrator NHOA Energy, meanwhile, is providing the BESS for Engie’s Kallo project, in northeastern Belgium, which also has a CM contract, won in 2024.
Vilvoorde and Kallo are two of three large-scale BESS that Engie revealed it had construction permits for in 2023 totalling 380MW. Engie has yet to announce construction or a supply deal for the third, the 80MW Drogenbos project.
Belgium is one of the most mature grid-scale energy storage markets in Europe with an accommodating regulatory regime when it comes to permitting and grid fees (energy storage is exempt) and long-term revenue streams like the CM boosting the business case.
“With the first series of batteries now operational in Vilvoorde, Engie is delivering part of the additional flexibility the electricity grid requires to balance supply and demand. The efficient construction of this battery park is only possible thanks to strong partnerships,” said Vincent Verbeke, CEO of Engie Belgium.
