Estonia begins construction of the largest battery park in Europe

Estonia has laid the foundation stone for the largest battery park in continental Europe, which will be an important step towards synchronizing the Baltic countries’ electricity grids with Europe by 2025; the project, led by Evecon, Corsica Sole and Mirova, aims to increase energy security and support Estonia’s transition to renewable energy.

Estonia has taken a key step towards ensuring its energy independence by laying the foundation stone for the largest battery park in continental Europe. The project, located in Kiisa on the outskirts of Tallinn, is led by Baltic Storage Platform – a joint venture between Estonian energy company Evecon, French solar energy producer Corsica Sole and sustainable finance management company Mirova.

The project is intended to help Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania synchronize their electricity networks with Europe by 2025, breaking away from their historical dependence on the Russian grid. The two battery parks under construction will have a combined output of 200 megawatts and a combined storage capacity of 400 MWh, capable of supplying electricity to approximately 90,000 homes. The first of the two parks is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025, and the second in 2026.

The importance of energy storage

A battery park is a facility that stores large amounts of electricity, often generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar. It uses batteries – usually lithium-ion – placed in containers to store energy during periods of low demand and release it when demand is high or when renewable energy production declines.

As the Baltic countries prepare to synchronize their grid with the rest of Europe, energy security is becoming a pressing issue. Battery parks like the one being built in Kiisa play a key role in balancing energy supplies, especially as Estonia transitions to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The ability to store excess energy during periods of increased production and use it when needed will help mitigate supply fluctuations, ensuring grid stability and reliability.

Energy storage is also key to achieving Estonia’s goal of sourcing all electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Climate Minister Yoko Alender highlighted the role of storage systems in this transformation, saying they will help ensure a “clean, reliable and energy future after affordable” for Estonia.

The synchronization of the Baltic networks with Europe is also a geopolitical move, breaking the long-standing dependence on the Russian network. This transformation will make the region more self-sufficient and less vulnerable to potential energy supply disruptions, a concern that has become more pronounced in recent years due to the changing geopolitical landscape.

A broader trend in energy storage

The Kiisa battery park is not an isolated example. Similar projects are being developed in Europe and around the world as countries look to stabilize their energy grids and integrate more renewable sources. In Belgium, Corsica Sole, the country’s largest battery park was built in 2022, helping to stabilize the frequency of the European electricity grid. The facility participates in Frequency Control Reserve services, a mechanism that balances supply and demand fluctuations across the continent.

Outside Europe, countries such as the United States and Australia are also investing heavily in large-scale battery storage. The world’s largest energy storage facility, Moss Landing in California, has a capacity of 1,200 MWh. Australia’s Hornsdale Power Reserve, better known as Tesla’s Big Battery, has played a key role in stabilizing the Australian grid, reducing outages and even participating in energy trading markets.

As countries around the world work to meet their climate goals, the role of energy storage will become increasingly important. Estonia’s investments in large-scale battery parks underscore its strategic pursuit of both energy independence and a more sustainable energy grid.

However, battery parks have an impact on the environment. Lithium-ion batteries require materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are extracted in mines that can cause destruction and pollution of habitats. Additionally, batteries have a limited lifespan and their performance deteriorates over time. When they reach the end of their life, proper disposal or recycling is essential to prevent harmful chemicals from entering the environment.