Project Antares has been launched. Within this project, a 200MW battery will be realised along the A12 near Waddinxveen. The battery should be operational by the end of 2026 and contribute to decongesting the electricity grid by better balancing supply and demand.
Project Antares is one of the first battery storage systems in the Netherlands to connect to TenneT's high-voltage grid. It enables grid operators to respond faster to power shortages and reduces the risk of power outages.
Reducing grid congestion
The project is being developed by Alfen in collaboration with Return, which previously operated as SemperPower. Alfen talks about its largest battery energy system to date. The project is aimed at reducing grid congestion and improving the reliability of electricity supply.
The project comprises over 600 TheBattery Elements modules from Alfen. These are modular batteries equipped with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell technology and a liquid-cooled Cell-to-Pack design. The design limits the temperature difference between the cells to 3 degrees Celsius. Combined with intelligent cell design and an advanced battery management system (BMS), this ensures high storage capacity and limited battery degradation.
Storage capacity of 200MWh and a capacity of 100MW
Project Altares offers a storage capacity of 200MWh and a capacity of 100MW. According to Alfen, this is enough to light about half of the main streets in The Hague.
"Local energy storage solutions are crucial to balance supply and demand, increase predictability and address the increasing grid congestion in the Netherlands," explains Yves Vercammen, Sales & Business Development Manager at Alfen. "Together with Return, we are taking an important step with this unique installation, which is very important for the energy transition towards sustainable sources such as solar and wind. By making extra grid capacity available when renewable sources fail to deliver, battery storage systems like our TheBattery Elements enable greater deployment of renewable energy."
Electricity storage and trading
Two electricity suppliers will use the installation in Waddinxveen over the next five years to store and/or trade electricity. In doing so, Alfen is responsible for the entire engineering, procurement and construction process, including civil works such as foundations and site security.
Earlier, Alfen supplied a 1MW battery energy storage system to ENGIE's Drogenbos power plant in Brussels. This system helps monitor grid stability in Belgium. The system can regulate more than 1MW of power. It is connected to Elia's high-voltage grid at ENGIE's 6MW storage farm in Drogenbos.
20MW/40MWh battery energy storage system at Neeltje Jans
The company also supplied a 20MW/40MWh battery energy storage system for E-Connection. This system was installed at a wind hub and private 150kV power grid on the artificial island of Neeltje Jans in Zeeland. The battery hub is right next to a wind hub, allowing generated wind energy to be stored locally before it enters the grid.
TheBattery Elements modules are also used for battery systems for microgrids, where energy is produced, used, stored and managed locally. For example, to store solar energy from solar panels at sunny times so that it can be used at less sunny times or after sunset.
