How two large-scale batteries are making France’s electricity system more flexible

At a glance

Project facts

The French project developer Acacia is therefore developing two large-scale battery projects in the Hauts-de-France and Centre-Val de Loire regions. Together, they have an output of 200 MW and a storage capacity of 400 MWh.

BKW will take over the long-term marketing and economic optimisation of the storage facilities. To this end, it will provide access to the relevant electricity markets and to ancillary services. The contract runs for ten years and gives both companies a long-term framework for managing the installations.

Country

France

Business area

Energy Markets

Project status

Under construction

Commissioning

Q1 2027

Technology area

Battery energy storage systems (BESS)

Sector

Energy supply

Capacity

2 × 100 MW storage capacity, 400 MWh in total

Contract term

10 years

Story type

Specialist reference

Project type

New build and long-term management

Visualisierung des 100-MW-Projekts in Hauts-de-France

Facts

Optimisation of two batteries

Curea Elektro AG, part of the BKW Infra Services Group, supported the project in the technical development, optimisation and implementation.

This included the design of the protection and distribution concepts, technical comparisons of variants, the expansion of the technical centre, cable pulling along the entire DC route, and the connections to the distribution and protection systems.

Total output

Storage capacity

Contract term

Charging and discharging time

planned commissioning

More renewable energy needs more flexibility

With the expansion of wind and solar energy, the demands on the flexibility of the electricity system are increasing. This is because electricity production from these sources depends on weather conditions and does not always match current demand. Battery storage systems can absorb electricity when a lot of energy is available and release it again later. To ensure that this flexibility can be used effectively, the storage systems must be operated reliably from a technical perspective while also being deployed on the electricity markets in line with demand. The French project developer Acacia is therefore developing two large-scale battery projects in the Hauts-de-France and Centre-Val de Loire regions. Together, they have an output of 200 MW and a storage capacity of 400 MWh.⁠⁠

In implementing the projects, Acacia and BKW are combining their respective expertise. Acacia is responsible for the development, financing, construction and long-term technical operation of the two projects. BKW is taking on the long-term marketing and economic optimisation of the storage systems. To this end, it is creating access to the relevant electricity markets and to ancillary services. The contract runs for ten years and gives both companies a long-term framework for managing the installations.

Flexibility for the French electricity market

Following their planned commissioning in 2027, the two installations will be able to absorb or feed in electricity and make their available capacity available on various electricity markets as well as for ancillary services. Flexibility is created not solely by storage capacity, but by its targeted management. BKW optimises the use of the batteries in line with the respective market and system requirements. This enables the installations to respond at short notice to fluctuations between electricity production and consumption. The batteries thus support the integration of renewable energies and the stabilisation of electricity grids. For BKW, the partnership is a further step in expanding its offering for large-scale batteries. As part of the «Solutions 2030» strategy, it is planning a portfolio with more than 1,000 MW of capacity – both with its own projects and by managing storage installations for third parties.⁠⁠