Neoen Builds Nordics’ Largest Battery Storage Unit in Finland

Neoen has announced the construction in Finland of the Yllikkälä Power Reserve One, a new 30 MW battery storage plant with a storage capacity of 30 MWh.

Neoen, one of the world’s leading independent producers of exclusively renewable energy, has announced the construction in Finland of the Yllikkälä Power Reserve One, a new 30 MW battery energy storage plant with a storage capacity of 30 MWh. The facility will be located close to Lappeenranta in the south-east of the country.

“Following on from the Hornsdale Power Reserve in Australia, Azur stockage in France and Albireo Power Reserve in El Salvador, this first roll-out of lithium-ion stationary batteries in Finland underpins Neoen’s leadership in battery-based grid services,” the firm issued in a statement.

The facility is set to play a key role in stabilising the national electricity system managed by Fingrid. With Yllikkälä Power Reserve One, the firm aims to establish itself as a leading force in frequency regulation in Finland. Aside from greater reliability and lower electricity grid stabilisation costs, the plant will facilitate the integration of future renewable energy projects.

Xavier Barbaro, Neoen’s Chairman and CEO, said “we strongly believe in the potential for renewable energies in Finland and continue looking at development opportunities. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of our battery-based grid-balancing solutions with the success we have achieved in Australia, El Salvador, and France over the past few years. This new investment also demonstrates Neoen’s capacity.

The 30 MWh power reserve will make it possible to harness Finland’s substantial wind resources and speed up progress towards a target of being carbon neutral by 2035.

Christophe Desplats-Redier, Neoen’s Regional Director, said “I would like to thank all the partners involved in Yllikkälä Power Reserve One’s development, especially Fingrid and the municipality of Lappeenranta, who have made it possible to kick-start this innovative project. Neoen has been established in Finland since 2018, with an office in Helsinki. Our first wind farm, Hedet, has already started to generate electricity. This latest investment in energy storage illustrates our aim of becoming a leading player in the renewable energies market in Finland over the long term. Yllikkälä Power Reserve One is a perfect demonstration of our unique expertise, which enables us to roll out innovative solutions rapidly around the world.”