Italy's Energy Storage Boom: New BESS Projects and Gigafactory Developments
Italy is rapidly expanding its energy storage capacity, driven by both domestic and international investments. The sector is witnessing significant developments in battery energy storage systems (BESS) and local manufacturing, aiming to integrate more renewable energy and ensure grid stability.
Major BESS Partnerships and Deployments
Axpo and Zelestra have signed a landmark 10-year physical tolling agreement for an 830 MWh industrial-scale BESS located in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with commercial operations commencing in 2028. Axpo will provide optimization services to integrate renewable energy and deliver crucial grid flexibility. This transaction marks Axpo's first BESS agreement in Italy and elevates Zelestra to the second-largest operator for authorized storage capacity in the country, with a total portfolio of 970 MW.
In southern Italy, Longi Green Energy and RWE have signed a cooperation agreement to deploy a 300 MWh centralized photovoltaic and BESS project in Sicily. The project will utilize Longi's LONGiBank 2.0 6.25 MWh liquid-cooled lithium iron phosphate energy storage solution, connecting directly to the local grid upon completion.
Boosting Domestic Manufacturing
To support these large-scale deployments, Eni and Seri Industrial have officially broken ground on a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Brindisi. The facility aims to reach a production capacity of 16 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by the end of the decade, significantly supporting Europe's domestic energy storage manufacturing efforts and reducing reliance on imports.
These initiatives highlight Italy's strategic push to integrate renewables and secure grid flexibility through advanced storage solutions and local supply chains.
Source: Energia-Plus, Rometimes, GMTEight
This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.