Vattenfall optimizes large-scale battery of Return

Vattenfall is expanding its portfolio with the optimization and marketing of external large-scale storage systems. From 2026, Vattenfall will market a large-scale battery from operator Return with a capacity of 50 megawatts. The battery will be built in Waddinxveen and managed by Vattenfall's trading floor in Hamburg.

“Flexible storage systems are becoming increasingly important for a stable, fossil-free and efficient energy supply,” says Honey Duan, responsible for external battery storage systems at Vattenfall. “Return’s large-scale battery offers us a valuable addition to our portfolio of renewable electricity production.”

The growth of renewable energy sources leads to greater fluctuations in electricity production and prices. In 2024, negative electricity prices were regularly observed. In the Netherlands, this was the case in 5% of the hours. This increases the demand for stable prices and flexible storage systems.

Return will provide Vattenfall with a battery with a capacity of 50 megawatts and a storage capacity of 100 megawatt hours. The 8-year contract will start in the first half of 2026. The battery will be connected directly to the grid by Return.

In the Netherlands, Vattenfall already operates its own batteries in the Haringvliet and Alexia energy parks. Vattenfall aims to bring up to 1.5 gigawatts of external battery capacity to the market in Northwest Europe in the coming years.