Developer Altea Green Power has officially launched its ambitious battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Italy, with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW). These projects, collectively known as the ‘Black BESS' initiative, are set to be completed by the first half of 2024. In conjunction with three other project groups, namely Green, Blue, and Yellow BESS, Altea Green Power is actively expanding its BESS portfolio in Italy to reach a substantial 2 GW.
It's important to clarify that while Altea Green Power is the developer of these projects, the construction phase will be undertaken by the client who has acquired them. Altea Green Power is currently in advanced negotiations with two international investors for a co-development sale agreement, with the goal of achieving a cumulative BESS capacity of 5.5 GW throughout Italy by 2026.
Giovanni Di Pascale, CEO of Altea Green Power, shared his insights on the commencement of the Black BESS project, stating, “We are convinced that this [energy storage] market constitutes the natural outlet and boost for renewable energy and that it has ample margin for evolution and growth. By 2026, in Italy, we aim to reach 5.5 GW by making available all our engineering know-how gained over the years, thus consolidating our role as a reference player.”
Battery energy storage projects in Italy are expected to have a duration of 4-5 hours, primarily geared towards energy-intensive activities such as load shifting and capacity market provision. Notably, the utility and independent power producer (IPP) Enel has been the most active participant in the Italian market, recently announcing the construction of 1.6 GW of BESS projects, predominantly located in Sicily.
