Energy provider Engie started working on a second battery park in Kallo (East Flanders) this week after building one in Vilvoorde. Federal Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet (MR), Mayor of Beveren, Marc Van de Vijver (CD&V), and Engie Belgium CEO, Vincent Verbeke, gave a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony in Kallo on Wednesday.
Engie wants to respond to the growing demand for flexibility on the electricity grid. Due to the gap between production and demand, ‘flexibility’ is one of the key points in Engie’s strategy.
Just over a hundred battery modules, the equivalent of 80,000 home batteries, will be installed on the site in Kallo, where Engie used to have a thermal power station.
Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet: This park “fully aligns with the government’s priorities: strengthening our energy autonomy, guaranteeing security of supply, and preparing for the future with cutting-edge technological solutions.”
Flexibility of the grid
The batteries will store electricity and then release it to the grid when needed. This ensures the flexibility of the electricity system and supports the integration of renewable energy. By storing excess energy, batteries contribute to the optimal use of wind and solar energy.
“Batteries are complementary to energy from wind and sun,” Engie CEO Vincent Verbeke explains. “But gas-fired power stations are also still needed. Batteries cannot supply power for weeks without sun and wind. Gas-fired power stations can.”
50,000 households
The park will have a capacity of 100 megawatts and a total storage capacity of 400 megawatt-hours. At full power, the batteries will inject electricity into the grid for about four hours, providing power to almost 50,000 households.
The project’s total cost is 100 million euros, part of which the government will match. Construction is expected to be ready by 2027. “We must ensure that Belgium remains a strong energy hub, so these investments are necessary,” concludes Verbeke.
The Kallo project is Engie’s second large-scale battery project in Belgium. The first is under construction in Vilvoorde (200 MW). Engie also plans to build an 80 MW battery park in Drogenbos.
