BW ESS advances in its European expansion with new Energy storage projects in Italy and Spain which together add up to about 1.2 GWh of capacity.
BW ESS begins construction of a 515 MWh BESS in Italy
BW ESS Construction began on a battery energy storage system (BESS) of 107 MW and 515 MWh in Chignolo Po, in the Italian region of Lombardy.
The project, located near Pavia, is part of the company’s growth strategy in Europe and is scheduled to come online within the 2027-2028 cycle.
The installation was developed by ACL, BW ESS’s local partner, both companies established an alliance in 2024 focused on developing large-scale energy storage projects in Italy.
The project also has a contract within the capacity market managed by the Italian electricity grid operator Terna, whose obligation will begin in 2027.
The facility will allow electricity to be stored during periods of higher availability and then fed back into the grid when needed. This will help manage fluctuations between generation and demand within the electrical system.
Italy promotes large storage systems
BW ESS also secured a contract during the first MACSE auction, held in September 2025, for another project developed by ACL in southern Italy. This second facility will have a storage capacity of 706 MWh.
The MACSE mechanism is part of the Italian strategy to incorporate long-duration storage and facilitate greater integration of renewable generation into the grid.
Its development is particularly important in the southern regions of the country, where there is a high concentration of photovoltaic solar installations. While the capacity market has primarily supported projects located in northern Italy, MACSE offers an additional avenue for development storage systems associated with the flexibility needs of the electrical system.
These assets can absorb electricity during periods of high generation and deliver it later when the grid requires greater supply or regulation capacity.
BW ESS acquires 675 MWh of storage in Spain
In parallel with its progress in Italy, BW ESS expanded its storage platform in Spain by acquiring two independent BESS projects from Navacant, located in the Valencian Community.
The facilities have a combined capacity of 126 MW and up to 675 MWh of storage capacity; one will have 99 MW and the second 27 MW. Both assets are part of a portfolio called Project Sorolla.
The projects have been under development for approximately 18 months and are in an advanced stage of the permitting process. They are expected to reach Ready-to-Build status in 2027 and begin commercial operations in 2028.
One of its main attributes is the symmetrical rights of access and connection to the network, which allow the facilities to be structured both to consume electricity during charging and to inject it later during unloading.
BW ESS plans to retain ownership and long-term operation of the assets until the projects reach the Ready-to-Build phase. CST Energy, a Navacant partner, will continue to lead their development. From that point onward, BW ESS will assume construction and subsequent operation.
Spain accelerates the development of large-scale batteries
The Spanish energy storage market has progressed more gradually than other European markets, partly due to the progressive evolution of regulatory and commercial mechanisms.
However, the rapid growth of renewable generation there is an increasing need for assets capable of responding to variations between supply and demand.
BESS systems allow electricity to be stored and its use shifted between different times of the day, in addition to providing flexibility and contributing to grid balance. For this reason, independent battery storage projects are gaining importance within the Spanish energy market.
The acquisition also expands BW ESS’s presence in Spain, where the company has been operating since 2025 and combines the development of new projects with the purchase of assets that are already in advanced stages.
BW ESS expands its European storage portfolio
Currently, BW ESS maintains over 540 MWh of BESS systems in operation and around 11 GWh under construction, in addition to a multi-gigawatt development pipeline. The company has a presence in markets such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Sweden.
With the start of construction of the 515 MWh system in Chignolo Po and the acquisition of up to 675 MWh in Valencia, BW ESS incorporates approximately 1.2 GWh of additional capacity between both operations.
These moves reinforce their presence in two European markets where energy storage is gaining relevance to integrate renewable generation, improve grid flexibility and respond more quickly to changes in the electricity system.
Source: Energy Storage
Photo: BW ESS
