Grid-scale

Construction starts on first big battery to directly connect to TenneT Netherlands network

Dutch energy storage firm Return has started construction on the 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system in Waddinxveen, which will be the first project of the size to connect to the TenneT Netherlands high-voltage network in 2026. Vattenfall will manage and optimize half of the system’s capacity under an eight-year contract.

By

Marija Maisch

Apr 24, 2025

Return has launched construction works on the 100 MW / 200 MWh Antares battery energy storage system (BESS) in Waddinxveen, in the western Netherlands. The project is set to go live mid 2026 and play a critical role in stabilizing the Dutch grid.

Once commissioned, the Antares project will be the first one of the size to connected to the TenneT Netherlands high-voltage network.

The project is touted as the second largest storage facility in the Netherlands after the 350 MW/1.4 GWh Mufasa in Vlissingen. Mufasa is developed by Lion Storage, which operates under the Return umbrella.

The Antares project investment totals €85 million, and ING provides the majority of this sum with several facilities, complemented by additional facilities from Meewind and Nationaal Groenfonds.

Return has contracted Alfen and SPIE Nederland for technical execution. It has also partnered with Vattenfall as one of multiple capacity off-takers. Vattenfall will market 50 MW/ 100 MWh of the project under an eight-year contract from the planned commissioning in the first half of 2026.

Written by

Marija Maisch
Marija has years of experience in a news agency environment and writing for print and online publications. She took over as the editor of pv magazine Australia in 2018 and helped establish its online presence over a two-year period.
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