TotalEnergies has initiated a battery farm project at its Antwerp refinery in Belgium, aimed at energy storage. The project will have a power rating of 25 MW and a capacity of 75 MWh, equivalent to the daily energy consumption of approximately 10,000 households.
This endeavour marks TotalEnergies’ first flagship energy storage project in Belgium, following the commissioning of four battery parks in France with a total energy storage capacity of 130 MWh. Saft, the battery subsidiary of TotalEnergies, will supply the batteries for the project, consisting of 40 Intensium Max High Energy lithium-ion containers, reinforcing TotalEnergies’ position as a European leader in large-scale stationary storage.
Expected to be operational by the end of 2024, the installation will address the requirements of the European and Belgian high-voltage transmission networks by fulfilling several key functions:
1. Smoothing power fluctuations in the national grid on a daily basis, particularly during peak winter periods.
2. Ensuring grid security by actively participating in the national grid’s reserve services.
3. Facilitating the integration of more renewable electricity into the grid.
TotalEnergies recognizes the importance of this storage project in compensating for the intermittent nature of renewable energies and supporting their expansion. Batteries offer an effective solution for grid balancing, as they can be deployed quickly, have a small physical footprint, and offer high responsiveness, thereby meeting the evolving challenges faced by power grids.
Situated at the Antwerp refinery site, the project will leverage the available land and existing grid connection. It represents a significant step for TotalEnergies in the development of battery energy storage systems (BESS), further solidifying its presence across the entire electricity value chain in Belgium, including production, storage, and supply.
Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President Integrated Power at TotalEnergies, expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its contribution to grid stability and the expansion of renewable energies. TotalEnergies aims to deploy storage solutions, especially in countries where it actively develops renewable energy sources, with Saft’s expertise in battery energy storage systems supporting this endeavour. By providing energy storage solutions, TotalEnergies contributes to the growth of renewable energy production in Europe’s energy mix.
In Belgium, TotalEnergies plays a significant role in the electricity sector, covering the entire value chain. As an electricity supplier, the company serves around 450,000 business-to-consumer sites and approximately 100,000 business-to-business sites. TotalEnergies relies on various energy sources to supply energy, including the Marchienne-au-Pont CCGT power plant (430 MW), the Plate-Taille hydroelectric dam (140 MW), and a wind farm in the Belgian waters of the North Sea (300 MW). The company is also involved in solar and onshore wind projects with a portfolio of 300 MW. Furthermore, TotalEnergies operates 5,100 charging points for electric vehicles, with an additional 7,000 under development, including installations in major Belgian cities like Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, and Flanders.