RWE Approves 400 MW Battery Build at Moerdijk
RWE has finalized investment plans for a 1,100 MWh storage system in the Netherlands to relieve grid congestion and support offshore wind integration.
Key points
- RWE approved a 400 MW/1,100 MWh battery build at Moerdijk to serve 500,000 households during peak hours.
- The system will relieve grid congestion in North Brabant by managing capacity at the Moerdijk-Noord substation.
- Commissioning is scheduled for Q2 2028 to support the integration of a 795 MW offshore wind project.
RWE has issued a final investment decision to construct a 400 MW/1,100 MWh battery storage facility at its Moerdijk power plant in the Netherlands. The project represents one of the largest battery systems in the country and is designed to stabilize the local grid while accommodating a growing share of renewable energy sources.
According to IO+ reporting, the installation will comprise 208 lithium-ion battery containers capable of delivering full capacity for nearly three hours. Construction is set to commence immediately following the approval, with commissioning targeted for the second quarter of 2028.
Storage capacity targets peak evening demand
The system is engineered to meet the peak evening electricity demand of approximately 500,000 households. By absorbing excess grid electricity within seconds and releasing it during high-demand periods, the battery acts as a critical buffer for the North Brabant region.
Nikolaus Valerius, CEO of RWE Generation SE, stated that the facility will alleviate strain on the power grid. The infrastructure leverages existing connections at the Moerdijk-Noord high-voltage substation, avoiding the need for new transmission lines while enhancing regional resilience.
Relief for North Brabant grid congestion
TenneT South Netherlands confirmed that the battery will serve as a congestion reliever near the 150,000-volt substation. This capacity management agreement aims to reduce bottlenecks that currently restrict electricity purchases for other grid users in the area.
Grid operators TenneT and Enexis will reassess the impact of this new capacity on the waiting list for electricity connections in the fall of 2026. The facility will also provide advanced grid services, including immediate reserve inertia, building upon a smaller 7.5 MW synthetic inertia battery already operating at the site.
Integration with offshore wind projects
The Moerdijk battery is a key component of RWE and TotalEnergies' 795 MW offshore wind project. It provides onshore flexibility by storing electricity when wind production is high and feeding it back during low-production periods.
This storage solution supports the broader ambition to integrate renewable energy more effectively into the Dutch system. It works alongside other technologies such as electrolysis and e-boilers to smooth out fluctuations and optimize the utilization of clean power.
