
ENGIE has commenced construction on one of Europe's largest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at its Vilvoorde site in Belgium. This significant project, launched on July 5, follows the acquisition of a construction permit in July 2023 and selection for capacity remuneration in October 2023.
With an installed capacity of 200 MW spread over a 3.5-hectare site, BESS Vilvoorde will be able to store 800 MWh of energy in 320 battery modules, each measuring 25 m x 4 m x 3 m, and release it to the grid for four hours. Equivalent to 160,000 5 kWh domestic batteries, it will cover the electricity consumption needs of 96,000 households. The battery park has secured a 15-year contract with Elia, the national grid operator.
The project will be executed in two phases: the commissioning of 100 MW of batteries in September 2025, followed by an additional 100 MW in January 2026. ENGIE is also advancing two other BESS projects in Belgium, located in Kallo (100 MW / 400 MWh) and Drogenbos (80 MW / 320 MWh), for which permits have already been obtained.
BESS Vilvoorde is a testament to ENGIE's commitment to developing large-scale flexibility solutions, crucial for the integration of renewable energy. It aligns with the Group's goal of achieving 10 GW of installed battery capacity worldwide by 2030.
Sébastien Arbola, Executive Vice President in charge of Flex Gen & Retail activities, emphasized the project's importance: "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."
As of December 31, 2023, ENGIE had 1.3 GW of battery capacity in operation and 3.6 GW secured under development.
Source: newsroom.engie.com