Return’s Antares battery energy storage system (BESS) in Waddinxveen has entered commercial operation. The 100 MW / 200 MWh battery is now fully operational, directly connected to TenneT’s 150 kV high-voltage grid.
The milestone follows the completion of construction, grid connection and an extensive testing and commissioning programme. Antares has reached commercial operation ahead of schedule, marking the transition from building and testing the asset to putting its full capacity to work.
From construction to commercial operation
Bringing a battery of this scale into operation directly on the Dutch high-voltage grid requires close coordination across technical teams and partners. Over the past months, Antares has progressed through construction, energisation, commissioning and extensive testing. This included the technical requirements associated with operating a large-scale BESS directly on TenneT’s grid.
With commercial operations now underway, Return’s customers can actively use Antares’ capacity in the energy markets. The battery can respond to changes in electricity supply, demand and market prices by storing or supplying electricity when it is most valuable.
100 MW of new flexibility for the Netherlands
The start of commercial operations also means 100 MW of additional flexible capacity is now available to the Dutch electricity system. That flexibility is becoming increasingly important. As the Netherlands adds more wind and solar generation, electricity production varies more throughout the day. At the same time, demand for electricity is growing as industry, transport and other parts of the economy electrify.
Large-scale batteries can respond quickly to these changes. Antares can store electricity during periods of high availability and make it available again when demand increases, helping customers optimise their energy positions while adding flexibility to the wider system.
At 100 MW / 200 MWh, Antares demonstrates the scale at which battery storage is becoming an active part of the Dutch energy infrastructure.
Built together
Reaching commercial operation ahead of schedule is the result of close collaboration between Return, TenneT and the many partners involved in bringing Antares from construction to operation.
A big thank you to Alfen and SPIE Nederland for the technical execution and scope delivery and everyone elke who contributed to reaching this milestone. For Antares, commercial operation is a major step, but not the last one.
