BW ESS Enters French Battery Storage Market with 800 MWh Acquisition

BW ESS has moved into France’s battery storage market, buying two advanced-stage standalone projects from developer Recurrent Energy totalling 800 MWh in combined capacity.

The two facilities — each rated at 100 MW and 400 MWh — are located in the Calvados and Pyrénées-Orientales departments. BW ESS will develop both sites through construction and into operation in partnership with Recurrent Energy, the original developer.

The company views France’s nuclear-dominated grid as a strong fit for storage. Co-founder Erik Strömsjö said batteries would give the system the flexibility it needs as demand shifts with weather and generation grows less predictable, absorbing surplus low-carbon power and releasing it during peak pricing and high-demand hours.

The French deal coincides with progress on a major UK project. On 21 October, BW ESS secured debt financing for its Hams Hall facility — 400 MW / 1,424 MWh — with the deal expected to close on the commissioning date. OCBC, Rabobank and Societe Generale provided equal shares of the debt. The first phase, at 350 MW / 1,243 MWh, is expected to come online by the end of 2026 under a ten-year revenue agreement with EDF that guarantees minimum revenue and covers market optimisation. Once both phases are complete, BW ESS expects Hams Hall to rank as Europe’s largest operating battery storage facility by capacity.

Source: ESS News (pv magazine)