Vattenfall has secured 100MW (400 MWh) of storage capacity from the Dutch Leopard battery, currently under development by Giga Storage. Under the agreement, Vattenfall will have full operational control of this capacity, enabling the company to mitigate increased imbalance risks across its customer and renewable portfolio.
Erik Suichies, Head of Wholesale Customers at Vattenfall commented:
'As renewables take an increasingly prominent role in our energy system, the need for flexible capacity continues to grow. Batteries can respond rapidly to constant fluctuations - stepping in during shortages or storing energy when supply exceeds demand. This makes them a critical component of the energy system of the future.'
Wind and solar generation are inherently variable. Batteries help balance supply and demand by storing excess production and releasing it when output is low. They also respond instantly to grid fluctuations. Contracts that enable rapid responses to surpluses and shortages are traded on short-term wholesale markets, where Vattenfall will manage the stored electricity.
Giga Storage has reached Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Leopard battery, which will have a maximum output of 300 MW and be built in Delfzijl in the north part of the Netherlands. Vattenfall will be able to store up to 400 megawatt-hours in the battery and charge or discharge at a maximum capacity of 100 MW. The contract will commence 1 January, 2028.
This is Vattenfall’s third flexibility contract in a short period. Earlier this year, the company contracted 50 MW in the Netherlands and 55 MW in Germany.
Source: Vattenfall
