French energy giant Total is to develop a 25MW energy storage facility in Dunkirk’s port district, which will be the largest such project in France.
The €15m lithium-ion battery system, located at the Flandres Center, will have 25 megawatt-hour storage capacity.
It will be used to provide reserve services to support the stability of the French power grid and is part of government policy to support the development of electrical capacity through capacity mechanisms, Total said.
The system will be based on Saft’s Intensium Max 20 high energy solution and will comprise 11 integrated 2.3MWh containers, designed and manufactured at Saft’s production site in Bordeaux.
Commissioning is scheduled in late 2020.
Total chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said: “This project is part of Total’s strategy to develop the stationary energy storage solutions that are critical to the expansion of renewable energy, which is intermittent by nature.
“It will contribute toward the goal of increasing the share of renewables in France’s energy mix, while helping to stabilize the domestic power grid.
“Total’s involvement in the electricity segment continues to expand.
“With more than 40% of the storage capacities allocated, Total was the leading winner of the first call for tenders organised by RTE – France’s Electricity Transmission Network.
“This success was made possible thanks to the competencies of Total Flex, renewable energy aggregation expert, and Saft.”