GIGA Storage, a company specializing in clean energy solutions based in the Netherlands, has successfully obtained approval to build a 600MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Belgium.
This project, named GIGA Green Turtle, is set to be located in Dilsen-Stokkem, eastern Belgium, near a new 380kV high-voltage station operated by Elia, the transmission system operator.
The strategic placement of the project on the high-voltage line from Van Eyck to Gramme will optimize its grid connection.
The site chosen for the BESS project was previously occupied by a zinc factory. Before GIGA Storage acquired the land, another energy company had plans to establish a battery project at the same location.
The BESS project will consist of 20 batteries, each paired with an inverter, 185 medium-voltage transformers, five high-voltage transformers with a combined capacity of 1,500 megavolt amperes, and a 25,650m² planting zone surrounding the battery park.
GIGA Green Turtle is designed to store the equivalent energy used by 330,000 families annually and will make a significant contribution to the electricity grid. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2025, with the project anticipated to become operational by 2028.
The process leading to the project’s approval began in December of the previous year when GIGA Storage applied for an environmental permit from the city of Dilsen-Stokkem.
Following a public inquiry earlier this year, the project received a positive decision on the environmental permit, paving the way for its development.
In January this year, Ruud Nijs, the CEO of GIGA Storage, emphasized: the significance of large energy storage projects.
These projects contribute to energy security, both during and after the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. By developing large-scale energy storage facilities at strategic locations, we can stabilize energy prices and reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Despite being the largest battery in Europe, this project is just the beginning. In the coming years, there will be a growing need for even more storage capacity. GIGA Storage aims to play a crucial role in meeting this demand, with an ambitious goal of achieving 5 GW of installed capacity by 2030.
source: GIGA
