French energy company Engie has unveiled a plan to roll out 1.5 GWh of battery storage capacity across three sites in Belgium. The firm will connect three large-scale batteries to the high-voltage grid at its own sites in Kallo, Drogenbos, and Vilvoorde, with all of the batteries capable of providing power for four hours. The battery deployment includes 80 MW/320 MWh of storage in Drogenbos, 100 MW/400 MWh in Kallo, and 200 MW/800 MWh in Vilvoorde.
Engie has already established itself as a key player in the Belgian energy market, with the company operating a 1,080 MW pumped hydro storage facility in Trois-Ponts, near Liege, for more than 50 years.
The latest deployment of battery storage capacity will allow Engie to further strengthen its position in the market, which already boasts an installed PV capacity of 6.9 GW and a total renewable energy power generation capacity of 13.0 GW as of the end of 2022, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.
The deployment of battery storage capacity is part of Engie's wider commitment to transitioning to renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions. The company has set a target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2017 levels, and achieving net zero emissions by 2045. With its latest battery deployment in Belgium, Engie is taking a significant step towards achieving its ambitious sustainability targets while helping to drive the transition to a more sustainable energy future.