EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Commercial operations have begun at the 100 MW/200 MWh Antares battery energy storage system in Waddinxveen, Netherlands. Developed by Return, the facility is directly connected to TenneT’s 150 kV high-voltage grid. Completed ahead of schedule, the project provides additional flexibility to the Dutch electricity system and enables customers to participate in energy markets.
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Return’s Antares battery energy storage system (BESS) in Waddinxveen, Netherlands, has entered commercial operation ahead of schedule. The 100 MW/200 MWh facility is now fully operational and directly connected to TenneT’s 150 kV high-voltage grid. The milestone follows the completion of construction, grid connection, commissioning and extensive testing, allowing the battery to begin operating at its full capacity.
The project has progressed through several technical stages, including construction, energisation, commissioning and testing. These activities involved meeting the technical requirements for operating a large-scale battery storage facility directly on the Dutch high-voltage electricity network. Commercial operation marks the transition from project development and testing to active participation in electricity markets.
With Antares now operational, Return’s customers can use the battery’s capacity to respond to changing electricity supply, demand and market prices. The system can store electricity when availability is high and supply it when demand increases or market conditions make discharge more valuable. This capability allows customers to optimise their energy positions while contributing flexibility to the electricity system.
The commissioning of Antares adds 100 MW of flexible capacity to the Netherlands. As the country continues to expand wind and solar generation, electricity production increasingly varies throughout the day. At the same time, growing electrification across industry, transport and other economic sectors is increasing electricity demand. These developments are creating a greater need for flexible energy infrastructure capable of responding to fluctuations in generation and consumption.
Large-scale battery storage systems can respond quickly to changing electricity conditions. Antares provides a means of storing electricity during periods of high availability and releasing it when required. Its 200 MWh energy capacity supports the delivery of electricity over a two-hour period at its rated 100 MW output.
The project also demonstrates the integration of utility-scale battery storage into the Dutch high-voltage electricity infrastructure. Its direct connection to TenneT’s grid enables the facility to provide flexible capacity while supporting customers participating in electricity markets.
Return credited the achievement of commercial operation ahead of schedule to coordination between its teams, TenneT and the project’s technical partners. Alfen and SPIE Nederland contributed to the technical execution and delivery of their respective scopes.
The operational milestone establishes Antares as an active battery storage asset within the Netherlands, providing additional electricity system flexibility as renewable generation and electrification continue to expand.