First operational 4-hour battery energy storage system ("BESS") in the Netherlands: the future of flexibility

Milestone in battery energy storage sets new standard for grid stability and energy transition.

S4 Energy, the Rotterdam-based leader in European grid-scale storage, has commissioned its first state-of-the-art 4-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS); the first of its kind in the Netherlands. This project in the municipality of Rilland (Zeeland) offers a 4-hour charging and discharging capacity of 10MW. The ability to efficiently store energy for an extended period of time combined with a rapid, demand-driven response enables the provision of a number of essential services, both to the grid and ultimately to end consumers. This BESS also supports the energy transition by facilitating the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources while maintaining grid stability and reliability, helping to lower electricity costs for consumers.

This installation is an important milestone both in improving grid flexibility and promoting renewable energy integration, says Dominique Becker Hoff, CCO of S4 Energy: "It is no secret that the Dutch electricity grid is under pressure. The demand for electricity is growing faster than the infrastructure can be expanded. There is a clear mismatch between the timing of demand and the availability of sustainably generated energy. Both challenges are not expected to be structurally solved anytime soon. We know that alternative solutions are necessary to keep the grid stable and energy affordable."

S4 Energy's storage systems provide energy buffers in high and medium voltage grids, efficiently storing excess energy when there is excess capacity and delivering it back as soon as demand increases. This capacity not only contributes to cost-effective energy distribution, but also facilitates the seamless integration of renewable energy into the grid. "Our Rilland plant is the first of its kind with the storage capacity to supply 10MW of power for 4 hours at a time. Although this does not meet the
total energy demand can be met, it does represent an important and scalable step forward in innovation in renewable energy storage and grid flexibility," Becker Hoff explained.

In the coming years, S4 Energy plans to build multiple new energy storage facilities throughout Europe, underscoring its commitment to a resilient, stable and affordable energy grid.