Enel and Masdar Explore Joint Battery Storage Projects in Italy

Enel, the largest utility in Italy and the renewable energy firm based in Abu Dhabi, MASDAR, are in preliminary discussions to jointly develop the storage capacity of the battery within Italy. The announcement was made by Enel CEO, Flavio Cattaneo, during a business conference in Milan. Companies, already partners in renewable energy companies in Spain, are considering expanding their collaboration to include energy storage systems in Italy.

Cattaneo highlighted a vision shared with Masdar to advance in new markets, specifically mentioning Italy’s interest in battery and storage systems. This potential association is aligned with the broader strategy of Italy to improve its renewable energy infrastructure. As the country increases its solar and wind power capacity, the need for efficient storage solutions becomes critical to guarantee a period of stable energy supply duration when renewable sources do not generate electricity.

The Italian, Terna Transmission System operator has projected a requirement for 71 hours of gigawatts or a new energy storage at a grid scale by 2030 to meet the decarbonization objectives of the European Union. This includes an estimated 8,875 energy rating gigawatts for the new storage capacity. To facilitate this, Terna plans to start an auction for energy storage capacity at the end of September.

The collaboration between Enel and Masdar in Spain serves as a precedent for its potential projects in Italy. In Spain, Masdar acquired a 49.99% participation in solar or solar energy plants operated by Endesa, a Subsidiary of Enel, with plans to add 0.5GW or battery energy storage systems. This investment of 817 million euros marked one of the important renewable energy transactions in Spain, reinforcing the commitment to expand its renewable energy footprint in Europe.

The strategic investments of Masdar are part of its broader objective to achieve 100 GW of renewable energy capacity worldwide by 2030. The company has been actively expanding its presence in Europe, including a recent agreement to acquire a 49.99% participation in four Endesa solar assets in Spain, totaling 446 megawatts, for € 184 million. These movements underline the dedication of MASDAR to support Europe’s transition to renewable energy.

Italy’s approach in the development of battery storage systems is crucial to integrate most of the renewable energy into the national network. Currently, the country has a growing market for battery energy storage systems, with a significant portion consisting of residential scale systems associated with small -scale solar plants. However, to meet future energy demands and guarantee network stability, there is a pressing need to develop large -scale and independent public services storage facilities.