TotalEnergies Unveils Battery Farm for Enhanced Grid Stability
Strategic Research Institute
Published on :
7 Jun, 2023, 7:04 am
In a remarkable development to enhance grid stability and support renewable energy integration, TotalEnergies has initiated a groundbreaking battery farm project at its Antwerp refinery in Belgium. This innovative venture boasts a power rating of 25 MW and a capacity of 75 MWh, equivalent to the daily consumption of nearly 10,000 households.
Marking TotalEnergies' largest battery installation in Europe, this project solidifies the company's position as a leader in industrial-scale stationary storage. The battery farm will feature 40 Intensium Max High Energy lithium-ion containers supplied by Saft, TotalEnergies' battery subsidiary. Saft's involvement reaffirms its expertise and prominence in the field of large-scale energy storage.
By the end of 2024, the battery farm will become operational, catering to the requirements of the European and Belgian high-voltage transmission network 24/7. It will serve multiple purposes, including smoothing power fluctuations in the national grid, particularly during peak winter periods, ensuring grid security by actively participating in the national grid's reserve services, and facilitating the integration of more renewable electricity into the grid.
TotalEnergies is thrilled to spearhead this storage project, which effectively addresses the intermittency challenges associated with renewable energy sources, thereby fostering their expansion. Batteries prove to be a valuable solution in achieving grid balancing objectives due to their swift deployment, small footprint, and high responsiveness. These characteristics make them well-suited to tackle the evolving demands of power grids in the present era.
Situated on the Antwerp refinery site, the project benefits from available land and existing grid connections. It represents a significant step in TotalEnergies' commitment to developing battery energy storage systems (BESS) and strengthens its presence across the entire electricity value chain in Belgium, encompassing production, storage, and supply.
Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President Integrated Power at TotalEnergies, emphasized the significance of this milestone project, stating, "This first storage project in Belgium – our largest in Europe – will help ensure the stability of the Belgian and European grids to allow for greater development of renewable energies. It fits in perfectly with the multi-energy strategy of TotalEnergies." Jouny further highlighted TotalEnergies' intent to deploy storage solutions in countries actively advancing renewable energy sources, underscoring their role in supporting the growth of renewable energy production in the European energy mix.