EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A 62.5 MW/262.5 MWh battery energy storage project is under construction in Ragusa, Sicily, marking RWE's first BESS development in Italy. The facility will comprise 42 lithium-ion battery containers and provide four hours of maximum output. Designed to support grid stability and balancing services, the project is scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2027.
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German energy company RWE has started construction of its first Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Italy, a 62.5 MW/262.5 MWh facility in Ragusa, Sicily. Announced on 10 November 2026, the project will comprise 42 containers equipped with lithium-ion batteries. The system will be capable of delivering its maximum output for four hours, with commissioning scheduled for the end of 2027.
The Ragusa BESS will provide balancing energy to support the stability of Italy's electricity grid. It will also incorporate technology required to deliver grid-forming services, including instantaneous reserve, also known as inertia. These capabilities are intended to support grid operations as renewable electricity generation increases.
RWE will develop the associated grid infrastructure alongside the battery installation. This includes a high-voltage transformer connecting the facility to the 150-kV electricity grid. The battery system and its supporting infrastructure will form part of RWE's first battery storage development in Italy.
According to Sopna Sury, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, the construction milestone represents an important step in the company's Italian operations. RWE has operated wind and solar assets in Italy for several years and intends to expand its battery storage activities alongside its existing renewable energy portfolio.
Sury stated that the Ragusa battery will be capable of covering the evening peak electricity demand of approximately 21,000 households for four hours. The company considers battery storage an important component of grid stabilisation and electricity supply management as renewable energy capacity grows.
RWE currently operates battery storage systems with a combined capacity of approximately 1.7 GW worldwide, while another 3 GW is under construction. Its battery storage activities span the United States, Europe and Australia. The company plans to significantly expand its global battery storage portfolio as part of its growth strategy.
In Italy, RWE Renewables Italia develops, constructs and operates renewable energy projects and markets electricity generated from its assets. Its existing operational portfolio comprises 18 onshore wind farms, one photovoltaic plant and three agrivoltaic plants.
Together, these installations represent approximately 670 MW of installed capacity, sufficient to supply green electricity to more than 550,000 Italian households. RWE also has approximately 200 MW of additional wind and solar capacity under construction in Italy.
The Ragusa project adds battery storage development to RWE's existing Italian renewable energy activities. Once commissioned, the facility is expected to provide balancing energy and grid-forming capabilities, supporting electricity grid stability alongside the company's wind and solar operations in the country.