Neoen to Build France’s Largest Battery Amid Strained Power Grid
(Bloomberg) -- Renewable energy developer Neoen will build France’s largest battery, helping to store rising solar and wind generation and ease strain on the country’s grid.
Construction of the 248-megawatt battery — which will have 496 megawatt-hours of capacity — is scheduled to begin this summer, with operation expected in 2028, Neoen, controlled by Brookfield Asset Management, said in a statement. Japan’s Nidec will assemble the battery packs in France.
Demand for battery storage is growing in France, and other parts of Europe, as power gluts become increasingly frequent due more solar and wind generation that can exceed demand during parts of the day. That’s leading to curbs in French nuclear and renewable output, making grid balancing more challenging, and causing big swings in prices — including to below zero.
The new battery will provide frequency and voltage regulation services to the French grid and help relieve congestion of the network in the Paris region, according to the statement
Installed battery storage in France rose 35% last year 1.61 gigawatts, according to grid operator RTE data.
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