A significant milestone for the energy transition
ENGIE built an installation in Vilvoorde with 320 lithium ion battery containers, providing a total storage capacity of 800 MWh. This makes it not only the largest battery park (BESS) in Belgium but also one of the largest in Europe. Equans was responsible for the entire technical backbone of the project.
In recent years the share of renewable electricity in Belgium’s total electricity production has increased significantly. We generate more and more power from the sun and the wind, but this energy is not always produced at the moment we need it. A battery park solves that challenge. It stores energy when there is plenty of sun or wind and releases that green energy again when electricity demand rises.
The battery park was built on the site of the former gas plant in Vilvoorde and consists of 320 lithium ion battery containers and 80 converters. The project fits within the ambition to transform this location into a stronghold of renewable energy. The park has a total storage capacity of 800 MWh, which corresponds to the average daily electricity consumption of 96,000 Belgian households. At maximum power the batteries can store 200 MW of electricity for four hours and release it back into the grid later in the day. The battery park helps increase the use of renewable energy, keep the grid stable and maintain energy costs under control in the long term.
The Equans scope included all work related to the so called Balance of Plant. This covers activities such as civil engineering, the connection to the high voltage grid, the installation and connection of substations, the management of medium voltage units, the low voltage cabinets, the auxiliary transformers, as well as AC, DC and signal cabling and much more. Our partner Galère was responsible for the construction of the civil structures for this project.
Our Mission and Value Proposition
At Equans, our mission is to guide companies through their energy, digital and industrial transitions. The rise of renewable energy sources such as solar panels and other forms of intermittent production underscores the growing importance of energy storage. Recognising this as a fundamental pillar of the energy transition and to realise necessary solutions, we launched Equans Solar & Storage globally last year. This specialised brand brings together over 1500 experts committed to forging sustainable partnerships with our clients, facilitating a greener future together.
We are engaged across the entire value chain, from design and engineering to construction, delivery, and maintenance. By amalgamating our expertise in solar energy and energy storage with our proven experience in energy and transportation networks, we contribute to the stability and sustainability of the energy infrastructure.
