Centrica Business Solutions, a energy services and solutions provider, has partnered with Alfen, a manufacturer of smart energy solutions, to launch its first battery storage project in mainland Europe. The 24MW / 54 megawatt hour (MWh) facility, which will be located in Ostend, Belgium, is set to become fully operational by early 2024. Alfen will oversee the project's design, supply, civil works, installation, tests, and long-term maintenance.
Centrica Business Solutions' decision to venture outside the UK and Belgium marks a significant milestone for the company. With the help of Alfen's TheBattery Elements system, the project will participate in Belgium's capacity market, securing the country's long-term power supply while prioritizing green energy.
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Bill Rees, Director of Centrica Energy Assets, expressed the company's commitment to meeting its goal of delivering 900MW of flexible energy assets by 2026. “We're becoming more active in developing and acquiring flexible assets at home and abroad,” he said.
Michelle Lesh, Chief Commercial Officer at Alfen, expressed her excitement at collaborating with Centrica Business Solutions to bring the project to fruition. She emphasized how battery storage technology has advanced significantly over the last decade and how proud Alfen is to support Centrica's ambitions across mainland Europe, especially in Belgium, where the market is growing quickly.
The project's successful implementation is expected to help alleviate supply-demand imbalances by allowing energy to be stored, sold, and deployed to the grid when necessary. This flexibility will help Belgium realize its green energy goals while maintaining a stable and reliable energy supply.
