UK-based battery energy storage company Connected Energy has secured building permits for two second-life battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in France, as it expands its development pipeline in the country.
The company said it had obtained permission for a 12MW project on a brownfield industrial site in Angoulême and a 9MW project in the Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The latter project is being developed in partnership with the local municipality.
Connected Energy said its wider French pipeline now includes 15 projects ranging in size from 6MW to 17MW. The company uses second-life EV battery packs in stationary energy storage applications.
“Securing these building permits is a key milestone in our development ambitions,” said Charlie Vrignon, country head France at Connected Energy. “It opens the way for the next permits and gives us a strong basis to move faster across our growing portfolio.”
Connected Energy: France offered favourable conditions for second-life storage projects
The company said France offered favourable conditions for second-life storage projects, citing growing demand for energy storage capacity, increasing availability of retired EV battery packs and policy support for circular economy initiatives.
Grid connection applications have been submitted for the Angoulême project, with construction expected to begin within nine months.
Connected Energy has previously stated a target of deploying more than 1GWh of second-life batteries by 2030. The company said the French market would play a significant role in meeting that goal.
As part of its expansion in France, the company has appointed David Fonseca as BESS project manager. Fonseca has more than five years’ experience in renewable energy project development.
“The scale of curtailment across the French market is striking. I have seen it first-hand: well-functioning solar assets losing significant revenue because they have no means to store and despatch their generation. Connected Energy is addressing exactly that problem, and doing so with second-life battery technology adds a further layer of sustainability to the solution. The opportunity in France is substantial, and I am looking forward to building a portfolio that demonstrates what is possible,” said David Fonseca, BESS project manager.
Photo: Charlie Vrignon, country head, France and David Fonseca, BESS project manager, France
Credit: Connected Energy
