e-STORAGE, Canadian Solar’s energy storage unit, has partnered with Axpo to deploy an 8 MW/40 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in southern Italy. This project marks e-STORAGE’s initial venture into the Italian market and signifies a further step in its European expansion.
Construction is slated to commence at the end of 2026 at Axpo’s Rizziconi power plant in Calabria, with grid connection and commercial operation anticipated in early 2028. The system will be integrated into the existing combined-cycle gas power plant, utilizing its established grid interconnection to provide flexibility and balancing services.
e-STORAGE will provide an integrated solution comprising SolBank 3.0 battery blocks, power conversion systems, and its proprietary EQ-S Energy Management System. The battery cells and 5 MWh capacity SolBank 3.0 pack systems are manufactured at Canadian Solar’s facilities, ensuring supply chain visibility.
This installation represents the first phase of a broader collaboration between e-STORAGE and Axpo, with both companies intending to enhance their partnership in the future. The Rizziconi project addresses the specific conditions in southern Italy, where high solar output often surpasses grid absorption capacity.
The e-STORAGE system will capture excess solar energy and feed it back into the grid as needed, alleviating network constraints and potentially reducing electricity costs in a region historically reliant on external energy supplies.
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