Belgium – TotalEnergies has initiated a groundbreaking battery farm project at its Antwerp refinery in Belgium.
This project involves the deployment of a battery storage system with a power rating of 25 MW and a capacity of 75 MWh, equivalent to the daily energy consumption of approximately 10,000 households.
Energy storage endeavor
Following the successful commissioning of four battery parks in France with a combined energy storage capacity of 130 MWh, this project marks TotalEnergies’ largest battery installation in Europe. Saft, the battery subsidiary of TotalEnergies, will supply the 40 Intensium Max High Energy lithium-ion containers, solidifying its position as a European leader in large-scale stationary storage.
Expected to be operational by the end of 2024, the battery farm will play a crucial role in meeting the energy demands of the European and Belgian high-voltage transmission network.
Renewable energy development
TotalEnergies recognizes the importance of energy storage in compensating for the intermittency associated with renewable energy sources, thus enabling their widespread adoption. Batteries offer an effective solution to the increasing need for grid balancing due to their rapid deployment, small physical footprint, and high responsiveness. Consequently, they are well-suited to address the modern challenges faced by power grids.
The Antwerp refinery site was chosen for this project due to its available land and existing grid connection. This initiative further strengthens TotalEnergies’ presence across the entire electricity value chain in Belgium, encompassing production, storage, and supply.
TotalEnergies’ involvement
TotalEnergies plays a significant role in the Belgian electricity landscape, covering the entire value chain. As an electricity supplier, the company serves around 450,000 business-to-consumer (BtC) sites and approximately 100,000 business-to-business (BtB) sites. To meet their energy needs, TotalEnergies relies on various sources, including the Marchienne-au-Pont CCGT power plant (430 MW), the Plate-Taille hydroelectric dam (140 MW), and a wind farm located in the Belgian waters of the North Sea (300 MW).
Additionally, TotalEnergies is actively developing solar and onshore wind projects, with a portfolio of 300 MW. In the field of electric mobility, the company operates 5,100 charging points (35% on the road, 20% at home, and 45% in offices) and has another 7,000 charging points in the pipeline. Major Belgian cities such as Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, and Flanders benefit from TotalEnergies’ charging infrastructure.
