[SMM PV Flash] Times Digital Wins Commissioning and O&M Contract for 1.2 GW Solar Project in Saudi Arabia

HELLENiQ Renewables, a subsidiary of the HELLENiQ ENERGY Group, announced on October 8 the completion and commissioning of its first large-scale battery energy storage system at its industrial complex in Thessaloniki, Greece. The project provides 100 MW of power and 200 MWh of energy storage capacity using lithium iron phosphate battery technology with liquid cooling, consisting of three battery stations capable of delivering electricity for two hours at rated output, with an investment of approximately EUR 50 million. A new 33/150 kV substation and an approximately five-kilometre underground high-voltage cable were constructed to connect the battery complex to Thessaloniki’s electricity infrastructure. The company said construction generated roughly 100 direct jobs. As installed solar PV capacity continues to expand in Greece, storage is becoming increasingly important to absorb excess generation during high-production periods and discharge when demand and prices are higher. HELLENiQ ENERGY also plans a second 50 MW / 200 MWh storage project in the Florina region with four hours of duration; together the two projects will provide the group with a combined 150 MW / 400 MWh of battery storage capacity.

Return announced that its Antares standalone battery energy storage facility in Waddinxveen, the Netherlands, has entered commercial operation ahead of schedule. The project is rated at 100 MW / 200 MWh and is connected directly to grid operator TenneT’s 150 kV high-voltage network. Return said construction, grid connection, testing and commissioning were all completed before the start of commercial operations, and credited partners including TenneT, battery integrator Alfen and engineering firm SPIE Nederland. The announcement did not disclose a precise commissioning date or details on dispatch or contracting arrangements. Antares adds to Return’s operational large-scale storage portfolio in the Netherlands, reflecting continued recognition of the value that standalone batteries provide in capacity and flexibility as European grids become increasingly constrained.

Engie Chile announced that its BESS Lile standalone battery energy storage project at the Mejillones Energy Complex in the Antofagasta region has entered commercial operation. The facility is rated at 142 MW / 802 MWh with roughly five hours of discharge duration and represents an investment of approximately US$174 million, comprising 160 battery containers and 40 electrical support units. The project received authorization from Chile’s National Electricity Coordinator on September 25 and is connected directly to the national grid, storing electricity for dispatch according to system requirements to support renewable integration. BESS Lile reuses existing infrastructure at the Mejillones complex originally intended for thermal generation expansion, including the interconnection substation, internal areas and access roads. The commissioning completes the first stage of the complex’s conversion; Engie disconnected its CTM1 and CTM2 coal-fired units on December 31, 2025, after nearly three decades of operation. Engie has brought five battery storage systems into commercial operation in Chile in 2026, bringing its total operational battery capacity in the country to 803 MW.