RWE Approves 400 MW Battery Build at Moerdijk Site
RWE will construct a 1,100 MWh battery system in the Netherlands to alleviate grid congestion in Noord-Brabant.
Key points
- RWE will build a 400 MW, 1,100 MWh battery at Moerdijk, with commissioning planned for Q2 2028.
- The system will relieve grid congestion in Noord-Brabant through agreements with TenneT.
- RWE currently operates 1.7 GW of global battery capacity and has 3 GW under construction.
RWE has finalized its investment decision to construct a 400 megawatt (MW) battery storage system at its Moerdijk power station site in the Netherlands. The facility will feature 1,100 megawatt-hours (MWh) of capacity, housed in 208 lithium-ion containers, and is designed to deliver full output for nearly three hours. Construction is expected to begin soon, with commissioning targeted for the second quarter of 2028.
The project is positioned as a critical infrastructure solution for the regional grid. By leveraging existing high-voltage connections, the battery aims to relieve congestion in Noord-Brabant, creating available grid space for other electricity buyers. TenneT, the transmission system operator, has confirmed that the installation will help manage bottlenecks near the 150,000-volt substation at Moerdijk-Noord.
Grid relief through capacity steering
The battery will be dispatched via capacity steering agreements with TenneT to specifically target congestion in the West Brabant region. This operational model allows the system to absorb surplus electricity from the grid within seconds, thereby optimizing the use of existing infrastructure. The project also equips RWE to provide advanced grid services, including instantaneous reserve and synthetic inertia, capabilities already tested at the site with a smaller 7.5 MW unit.
Balancing offshore wind generation
The Moerdijk battery is a key component of the 795 MW OranjeWind offshore wind project, a joint venture between RWE and TotalEnergies. The system is designed to store excess power generated during high wind output periods and release it when demand peaks. This flexibility helps align renewable production with electricity consumption, supporting the integration of offshore wind into the Dutch energy system alongside other technologies like electrolysis and smart charging.
Expansion of global storage portfolio
This new facility expands RWE’s existing operations in the Netherlands, where the company already runs a 35 MW battery at Eemshaven. Globally, RWE currently operates battery storage systems with a total capacity of approximately 1.7 gigawatts (GW). With an additional 3 GW under construction, the company is executing a strategy to significantly increase its worldwide battery storage capacity to support the energy transition.
