Construction started for 200 MW/800 MWh Vilvoode BESS project

Engie has launched construction works on the 200 MW/800 MWh battery energy storage systems (BESS) at its Vilvoorde gas power plant site, located north of Brussels, Belgium.

With a 200 MW capacity on a 3.5-ha site, BESS Vilvoorde can store 800 MWh of energy in 320 battery modules, each measuring 25 m x 4 m x 3 m, and release it to the grid for four hours. Equivalent to 160,000 5 kWh domestic batteries, it will serve 96,000 households. The battery pack has a 15-year contract with Elia, the national grid operator. BESS Vilvoorde will be launched in two phases, with 100 MW of batteries commissioned in September 2025 and another 100 MW in January 2026.