Eneco builds large battery plant in Wallonia

Energy supplier Eneco is building a 50-megawatt battery power plant in the Walloon town of Ville-sur-Haine, the company announced on Wednesday.

The new plant in Hainaut will be comprised of 53 battery units - Tesla Megapacks - with a total power capacity of 50 megawatts and 200 megawatt hours of storage capacity. The battery plant can supply power to the grid for four hours.

According to a spokesperson, Eneco is investing 80 to 90 million euros in the project. The battery plant has a lifespan of about 20 years and is the energy supplier's first such project in Belgium. Eneco already operates a 48-megawatt battery power plant in Jardelund, Germany.

Battery power plants can help balance the electricity grid at times with less solar or wind energy. "They are fully charged at times when there is an abundance of sun and wind, for example in the afternoon when the sun is shining brightly," Eneco says. "A few hours later, in the evening, the power is released back to the grid."

The plant, which will be connected to the high-voltage grid, should be operational by the end of next year. "The permit has been obtained, the battery has been ordered and preparatory study works are in progress," Eneco says.

Eneco has promised additional investments in battery parks but has not yet given further information about its plans.

(BRV)

^{© PHOTO PATRICK T FALLON / AFP}