Alfen and Return Launch Largest Battery Storage Project in the Netherlands

image from Alfen

Alfen has partnered with Return (formerly SemperPower) to launch its largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project yet—Project Antares. Located in Waddinxveen, Netherlands, the project will help reduce grid congestion and ensure a more stable electricity supply for local communities and businesses.

Yves Vercammen, Alfen's Sales and Business Development Manager, highlighted the importance of energy buffering: “As the Netherlands faces increasing grid congestion, local energy storage is vital for balancing supply and demand. This project, powered by Alfen’s TheBattery Elements, will help integrate more renewable energy like solar and wind by providing reserve power during supply gaps.”

Scheduled for completion by late 2026, Project Antares will feature 600+ Alfen TheBattery Elements modules, providing a total capacity of 200MWh and 100MW of power. This storage capacity is enough to power half of The Hague’s main streets. It will also be one of the first projects in the country to connect to TenneT’s high-voltage network, allowing grid operators to respond more quickly to power shortages and reduce the risk of blackouts.

The Waddinxveen site will be used by two electricity suppliers under a five-year lease agreement, allowing them to store or trade electricity. Alfen will oversee all engineering, procurement, and construction tasks, including site development and implementation of smart monitoring for quick maintenance.

Project Antares further strengthens the ongoing partnership between Return and Alfen, marking a significant milestone in both project scale and functionality. Yves concluded, “The complexity of connecting to the high-voltage grid requires careful coordination, and our close collaboration with Return will ensure the success of this important project.”