ENGIE commissions first half of the Vilvoorde battery park

A little over a year after the first spade went into the ground at ENGIE's site in Vilvoorde, all 320 battery modules have been installed and half of them are now connected to the high-voltage grid. The other half will be commissioned by the end of the year, well ahead of schedule. The seamless realization of this project is the result of the combined expertise and strong collaboration between ENGIE, Tractebel, Laborelec, and our partners.

Once fully operational, the battery park will store up to 800 MWh of electricity, sufficient to supply 96,000 households for a duration of four hours.

Flexibility at the heart of ENGIE's strategy for the energy transition

Flexibility is an important pillar of ENGIE's 2030 strategy to accelerate the energy transition in Belgium, alongside renewable energy and accompanying its clients. Flexible assets such as the Vilvoorde battery park are crucial for maximizing renewable potential and ensuring grid stability. 

"With the first series of batteries now operational in Vilvoorde, ENGIE is delivering part of the additional flexibility the electricity grid requires to balance supply and demand. The efficient construction of this battery park, alongside our substantial investments in other flexible and renewable energy solutions, demonstrates our commitment to providing scalable solutions that build a sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy system," said Vincent Verbeke, CEO of ENGIE Belgium.

As the site in Vilvoorde offers further potential, an additional 100 MW/400 MWh of batteries could be installed in the near future. ENGIE submitted a permit application for this extension to the province of Flemish Brabant and a request for additional capacity to Elia. Subject to a positive outcome, ENGIE will make a final decision on this expansion by early 2026.

ENGIE is currently also building a second battery park in Kallo (100 MW/400 MWh), which will be operational by spring 2027.