Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company– Masdar and Spanish energy company Endesa have started construction of three battery energy storage projects in Spain, adding 60.16 megawatts (MW) of capacity and 120.34 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage to existing solar facilities.

The projects, representing a combined investment of €25.2 million ($28 million), are located in Extremadura and Andalusia and are expected to become operational by the end of 2027.

They will store electricity generated by solar plants, helping integrate more renewable energy into the grid and improve electricity system flexibility and stability.

The developments include Ardila, at the 44 MWp solar plants in Fregenal de la Sierra, Badajoz, and La Vega I and La Vega II, at two solar facilities in Teba, Málaga.

The projects mark the first battery storage developments under the partnership between Masdar and Endesa, established in 2024 when Masdar acquired a stake in a portfolio of Endesa's photovoltaic assets in Spain.

Dr. Ibraheem Almansouri, Acting COO, Masdar, said: “Spain is one of Europe’s fastest-growing major economies and this growth requires secure, resilient power. These projects will help integrate more clean power into the grid and strengthen the stability of the electricity system. They demonstrate how strategic partnerships can accelerate the deployment of advanced energy technologies, strengthen grid resilience and support sustainable economic growth, and they build on the strength of our partnership with Endesa while expanding our Iberian portfolio. We look forward to continuing to invest in Spain and to supporting the country’s economic ambitions.”

All three installations will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries equipped with grid-forming inverters.

The technology provides synthetic inertia, replicating the behaviour of conventional thermal and hydroelectric power generation, while responding rapidly to changes in grid conditions to support electricity system stability.

Ardila will deliver 36.10 MW (72.20 MWh) of storage capacity across 12 battery containers, equivalent to the daily electricity consumption of approximately 8,100 Spanish households.

La Vega I and La Vega II will each provide 12.03 MW (24.07 MWh) across four battery containers, with their combined capacity equivalent to the daily consumption of around 5,400 households.

Construction of the three projects is expected to create approximately 50 jobs. The partners will prioritise European-origin components and services, including inverters, auxiliary systems, communications and integration, supporting the development of the regional energy storage supply chain.

At the Ardila project, Masdar and Endesa will also collaborate with Fregenal de la Sierra Town Council to identify local improvement initiatives, with part of the project budget allocated to training.

Research and technical validation will be conducted in collaboration with CIRCE and the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT) at Comillas Pontifical University, including on-site testing and studies of grid-forming operations.

Masdar currently has 4.1 GW of operational capacity across the Iberian Peninsula, with approximately 1 GW under development.

The projects support the company's wider renewable energy expansion strategy and its target of reaching 100 GW of global capacity by 2030. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service