First four-hour battery storage in the Netherlands goes live

Rotterdam-based S4 Energy has commissioned a 10 MW / 40 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Rilland, Netherlands, marking what the company claims is the first 4four-hour duration system of its kind in the country.

The project’s 4-hour discharge capability distinguishes it from shorter-duration systems commonly used for frequency regulation. S4 Energy’s CCO, Dominique Becker Hoff, stated that the Dutch grid is under strain, citing growing demand and a mismatch between renewable energy availability and demand.

“It is no secret that the Dutch electricity grid is under strain. The demand for electricity is growing faster than infrastructure can be expanded,” said Becker Hoff. “There is a mismatch between the timing of demand and the availability of sustainably generated energy. Both issues are expected to persist for the foreseeable future. We know that storage solutions are essential to keep the grid stable and energy affordable.”

Becker Hoff added: “The Rilland installation is the first of its kind in the Netherlands with the storage capacity to deliver 10MW of power for four consecutive hours. While this alone cannot meet the total energy demand, it represents a critical and scalable step forward in sustainable energy storage innovation and grid flexibility.”

The announcement did not specify technical details about the project or its BESS suppliers, though Tesla branding is very clearly on white enclosures, indicating 10 Tesla Megapacks appear to be in operation. S4 Energy has been contacted for more information.

The Tesla website localized to the USA only provides Megapack costs, and estimates the cost for the 10 MW four-hour duration at US$9,099,280 or around €8.7 million. However, ESS News does not suggest that price applies directly when converted to euros, given different logistics and requiements for each European country.

S4 Energy stated it has further European projects in development, but didn’t provide details on locations, timelines, or technologies.