A former coal-fired power station in Genk is being transformed into a giant battery-storage hub, with Belgian energy developer Storm installing 106 Tesla Megapack 2XL units on the Langerlo site.
Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns and Genk Mayor Wim Dries visited the construction site on Thursday, October 22, as installation of the batteries progressed.
Once operational in summer 2027, the €110 million facility will be able to store 400 MWh of electricity and deliver up to 100 MW to help stabilize Belgium’s power grid.
The installation is important for ensuring grid stability and energy security, including in Genk. After all, increased wind and solar energy leads to greater fluctuations in energy production. The 100-million-euro project aims to supply electricity to about 40,000 households.
Supply and demand
During the site visit, Minister Jo Brouns and Mayor Wim Dries received an explanation regarding the construction and the role that large-scale battery storage will play in the Belgian electricity system.
In the future, these mega-batteries will store electricity when supply is abundant and release it when demand rises. In this way, they help better align supply and demand and keep the electricity grid balanced.
Former coal-fired power plant
Construction is underway on about two hectares of industrial land in Genk-Zuid. This gives a former coal-fired power plant a new purpose, with a direct connection to the high-voltage grid, without encroaching on any additional open space.
“Energy is in Genk’s DNA. Our city once helped form the heart of the traditional energy and mining industry; today, we are helping to build a sustainable energy system. Langerlo demonstrates how existing energy infrastructure can be given a new future, and how Genk remains a place where industry, innovation, and sustainability come together,” explained Wim Dries, Mayor of Genk.
Eneco
The park will be connected to the high-voltage grid via a former coal-fired power plant. To manage the battery park in Langerlo, Storm entered into a ten-year agreement with Eneco this summer.
With the 100-million-euro investment, Limburg is set to become a key region for renewable energy storage. By 2027, about one-third of Belgium’s total battery capacity will be located in Limburg.
‘Essential component of energy transition’
Flemish Minister of Environment Jo Brouns (CD&V) considers the storage facility an essential component of the energy transition. By 2030, Belgium is expected to derive 56% of its energy from nuclear (15%) and renewable (41%) sources.
Storm is a Belgian developer and operator of renewable energy projects. Since 2008, the energy company has completed around sixty wind turbines. In addition to wind farms, Storm also develops other sustainable energy solutions, including battery storage systems and fast-charging stations.
