TotalEnergies to ramp up battery storage capacity in Belgium with new project

TotalEnergies is to develop a second refinery battery storage site in Belgium to encourage the growth of renewable energies in the country and add resilience to the grid. The new project will be developed on the site of TotalEnergies’ depot in Feluy and will have a power rating of 25MW and capacity of 75MWh. Start-up is expected by the close of 2025.

TotalEnergies says its two battery storage projects represent a global investment of nearly €70 million and will bring its storage capacity in Belgium to 50MW/150MWh. The latest development was announced during a visit on Wednesday of Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten to the emerging Antwerp project.

Storage enabling renewables adoption

TotalEnergies says battery storage sites play a key role in the resilience of the electricity system, providing flexibility, and helping to solve grid congestion problems. They also encourage the growth of renewable energy options which, in turn, require such solutions to compensate for intermittency.

Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President, Integrated Power at TotalEnergies, said the Feluy announcement comes just a year after the company began its Antwerp project, due to be operational by the end of 2024.

“These projects are fully in line with our integrated development strategy for electricity, not just in Belgium, but globally,” he said. “These technical systems also confirm the European leadership of our affiliate specialised in battery production, Saft, and its industrial-scale stationary storage know-how.”

Partnership for storage progress

Saft, which has a history of 100-plus years, provides advanced technology battery solutions for industry, from design and development to production, customisation and service provision. A wholly owned subsidiary of TotalEnergies, it supplied the 40 Intensium Max High Energy lithium-ion containers required for the energy giant’s project.

TotalEnergies is a major player along the entire electricity value chain in Belgium and, as a supplier, has a 900,000 customers. As an electricity producer, the company relies in particular on the Marchienne-au-Pont CCGT power plant (430MW), the Plate-Taille hydroelectric storage (140MW), and an offshore wind farm located in the Belgian North Sea (300MW).

TotalEnergies is also developing solar and onshore wind projects, with a portfolio of 300MW, and has more than 10,000 charging points in operation, split respectively between roads, private homes and office.