“This 5MW/20MWh [megawatt hour] battery system is Galp’s first step in the hybridization of its solar energy production portfolio – one of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula, with almost 1.5 GW [gigawatt] in operation”, according to a joint statement.

The batteries will allow “Galp to store clean solar energy generated in periods of high production and use it in periods of greater demand, maximising the value of the energy”.

Alcoutim “is Powin’s inaugural project in Europe, a high-growth market for battery energy storage solutions”.

“As Galp increases its renewable energy production capacity, with the aim of transforming its industrial base to produce green fuels and sell renewable energy to its customers, storage solutions are key to ensuring a constant supply of electrons to our business,” said Georgios Papadimitriou, executive vice-president of Galp, responsible for Renewables, New Business and Innovation.

“Batteries also contribute to the competitiveness of our renewable energy portfolio by making solar and wind energy available when they are most needed,” he added.

“This project with Galp is greater than its impact on MW – it is the beginning of a new partnership and it is Powin’s first project in Europe after the opening of our office in Madrid”, said Powin executive Jeff Waters.

“Europe is expected to implement more than 90 GWh of large-scale battery energy storage projects by 2030, and we are well positioned to support this demand and keep up with the rapid growth of energy storage in the wider European region, Middle East and Africa,” he stated.