Vattenfall has signed a tolling agreement with Royal Vopak for a portion of the planned battery energy storage system near Meeden in the province of Groningen, the Netherlands. Under the agreement, Vattenfall will secure access to 100 MW / 400 MWh of battery storage capacity, helping to balance fluctuations in electricity supply and demand. The large-scale battery storage project developed and operated by Vopak will have a total capacity of 150 MW and a storage duration of four hours. Commercial operations are expected to start in the second quarter of 2028.
Supporting a more flexible energy system
As the share of wind and solar power in the electricity system continues to grow, flexibility is becoming increasingly important. Battery storage can absorb surplus renewable electricity when production is high and supply power back to the grid when demand increases or renewable generation decreases. Through this agreement, Vattenfall will further strengthen its ability to balance renewable generation and customer demand, bringing the company closer to its goal of contracting at least 1.5 GW of battery capacity across its core markets.
Erik Suichies, Head of Wholesale Energy at Vattenfall says, 'as the energy system becomes increasingly renewable, flexibility plays a crucial role in maintaining balance between supply and demand. Battery storage helps make better use of renewable electricity and contributes to a more reliable and efficient energy system. We are pleased to partner with Vopak and support the development of large-scale energy storage in the Netherlands.'
The agreement marks a milestone for Vopak as it continues to expand its activities into electrical energy storage.
Jarno Veldhoven, Vice President Business Development Battery Energy Storage Solutions at Vopak says: 'Vopak’s purpose is to help the world flow forward. We are known for safe storage of vital energy products and are actively shaping a sustainable future by investing in the energy transition infrastructure. As renewables represent an increasing share in the energy mix, we see a growing demand for battery energy storage solutions. With our aim to provide reliable and affordable battery systems to our customers we are excited to have Vattenfall as a long-term partner.'
Strengthening Dutch energy infrastructure
The partnership brings together two companies with long-standing positions in the Dutch energy sector. By combining large-scale storage infrastructure with market expertise and flexibility optimisation, the companies aim to support a more resilient and future-proof electricity system. Large-scale batteries are increasingly seen as a key component of the energy transition, helping to integrate growing amounts of renewable generation while making more efficient use of existing grid infrastructure.
Source: Vattenfall
