On August 25, the largest energy storage project in Europe developed by China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd.—the British Mendi Battery Energy Storage Project began cold commissioning. This marked the project's entry into the final stage of development and is scheduled to be put into commercial operation by the end of the year.
In mid-July, the 100MW / 100MWh Minety battery energy storage system (BESS) was completed in Wiltshire, southern England. It is claimed to be the largest project of its kind in Europe, although another project of a similar size in England, Capenhurst, is also now underway and another 100MW battery project is being built in neighbouring Ireland.
Image: Harmony Energy. Alex Thornton, operations director at Harmony Energy, gives us a deep dive into Pillswood, the biggest battery storage project in Europe, including the bold decision to be an early-mover into 2-hour lithium-ion BESS, in a market of much shorter duration assets.
RWE currently operates a total installed battery storage capacity of approximately 300 MW (380 MWh) and is implementing battery storage projects of more than 900 MW (2,300 MWh) worldwide. Globally, RWE aims to build three gigawatts of batteries by 2030.
Marc Herter, Mayor of Hamm: “The construction of the large battery storage facility at the Westfalen power plant once again underlines the tradition and importance of Hamm as an energy location. The large-scale battery storage facility secures the energy supply and forms an important foundation for the success of the energy transition.
RWE has begun construction of one of Germany’s largest battery storage facilities at its power plant locations in Neurath and Hamm. The facility will have a capacity of 220 megawatts (MW) and storage capacity of 235 megawatt hours (MWh).