At Yuso, we're proud to share our journey of successfully operating one of Belgium's most significant battery energy storage systems (BESS). For over two years, the Deux-Acren Energy Storage (DES) battery facility has been setting industry benchmarks and demonstrating the immense potential of large-scale battery storage in today's evolving energy markets.
Pioneering Grid-Scale Battery Operations
When commissioned in autumn 2022, DES stood as the largest battery facility in mainland Europe, marking a pivotal moment in the region's energy transition. Today, it remains Belgium's largest operational BESS, and Yuso stands as the only fully integrated optimizer managing assets above 25MW, bringing unique capabilities including:
Voltage support services, delivering reactive power control irrespective of active power delivery
Scheduling of a battery asset to the TSO (Elia) as Scheduling Agent
Communicating outage planning to the TSO (Elia)
Redispatching capabilities towards Elia for local congestion control. Based on the continuously available energy in the battery, Yuso gives the TSO the option to activate the battery when the local grid needs it.
Strong Partnerships: Spotlight on Corsica Sole
The success of DES is built on strong partnerships, particularly with Corsica Sole, the facility's owner and a leading independent power producer. With 15 years of experience in energy transition and innovation, Corsica Sole has established itself as a pioneer in both solar production and energy storage solutions. Their impressive portfolio includes:
110 MWc of solar power capacity
160 MWh of storage capacity
570 GWh of green energy produced
Operations across multiple territories
The successful collaboration between Yuso and Corsica Sole at DES demonstrates how strong partnerships can drive innovation in the energy transition. Together, we've proven that large-scale battery storage can be both technically and commercially successful, paving the way for future projects.
Transforming Belgium's Energy Markets
DES has been instrumental in reshaping how batteries participate in Belgium's energy markets:
Market Innovation
First scheduled BESS asset (≥ 25 MW) in Belgium
Pioneered new market rules for continuous delivery of ancillary services such as FCR and aFRR. Yuso replenishes the energy reservoir when needed by executing trades on the intraday market. This reduces the need for fossil fuel back-up assets and provides transparent settlement with the Owner.
Pioneered a new pricing structure for offering congestion management towards Elia via redispatching. The price needs to continuously be adjusted based on the cost of offering the service which is tied to the position of the battery on the market and energy level.
Environmental Impact
Replaced a former turbojet facility (one of the most carbon-intensive power generation methods)
Successfully competes with and displaces gas plants in FCR and aFRR auctions. These services are crucial to maintain safe operation on the grid and balance supply and demand.
Provides a green alternative for grid balancing services
Looking Ahead
The energy storage market continues to evolve, and Yuso remains at the forefront of innovation. Recent market developments have created even more opportunities for battery storage assets:
Increased renewable energy penetration driving price volatility. Last year in 2023, 2.6 GW of solar was added, driving imbalance spot price volatility to levels observed in the gas crisis of ‘21-’22. This can be observed in the monthly boxplots of the delta of the imbalance 15min price compared to the Day-Ahead price.
With the ever increasing penetration of renewables there is a growing demand for flexible capacity that can balance supply and demand and react to the price volatility. Historically gas plants provided a lot of that flexible capacity. However since renewables produce at a much lower price level, gas plants are now frequently switched off. Hence the need for batteries that can start up quickly
Partner with the Market Leader
As battery storage continues to play an increasingly crucial role in our energy system, choosing the right optimization partner becomes more important than ever. With Yuso, you get:
Proven track record with large-scale BESS operations
Deep market expertise and established relationships with grid operators
Comprehensive optimization across all available markets (FCR, aFRR, Day-Ahead, Intraday, imbalance mechanism, voltage support, congestion management/redispatching and Capacity Remuneration Mechanism)
One-stop-shop with only Yuso as counterparty.
Advanced technological capabilities in terms of scheduling, high-frequency asset-backed trading
Transparent reporting and dedicated support
For battery storage asset owners looking to maximize their investment, Yuso offers unparalleled expertise and a demonstrated history of success. Contact us to learn how we can help optimize your energy storage asset and capture its full market potential.
Ready to optimize your battery storage asset? Contact our team at bess-rtm@groups.yuso.com to discuss how we can help maximize your returns.