GIGA Storage launched its third large-scale energy storage project in Amsterdam’s Western Port Area to boost grid reliability and support clean power.

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Amstelveen-based GIGA Storage, an energy company that develops and deploys large-scale energy storage projects, announced that it has officially opened its third large-scale energy storage project — Giraffe.

Located in Amsterdam’s Western Port Area, the project has a power capacity of 10 MW and a storage capacity of 47 MWh.

It is now the largest battery system in the city, says the company.

“With its large-scale energy storage projects, GIGA Storage aims to be an indispensable link in the energy transition. Thanks to our combination of in-depth expertise and complete control over the process – from design to long-term operation – our goal is to become a relevant player in the European market. With every project we realise, we take a step towards a safe, reliable and future-proof electricity supply,” says Kevin Dijkers, CEO of GIGA Storage.

Project Giraffe

The latest project enables sustainably generated energy to be stored efficiently and used at times of scarcity.

Giraffe consists of 12 Tesla Megapack 2XL batteries using lithium-ion LFP technology, each with a capacity of 3.9 MWh.

Together, they provide roughly 47 MWh of storage, equivalent to powering around 800 electric cars.

The batteries have a 20-year lifespan and are already supplying power to the national grid, supporting the balance between energy supply and demand.

Additionally, GIGA Storage and Port of Amsterdam are exploring ways to use Giraffe’s capacity locally in the future.

The expected applications include relieving grid congestion and supporting local energy contracts through the Amsterdam Port Energy Cooperative (ECAH), a partnership of port-based companies building a more stable and sustainable energy system.

The port generates a significant amount of sustainable energy, with approximately 350,000 m² of solar panels and an installed capacity of 73 MW of wind turbines.

The funds for the realisation of Giraffe were raised from Rabobank and Triodos. The construction was carried out by K Dekker and Van den Heuvel, regular partners of GIGA Storage.

GIGA Storage: Ending fossil-fueled power plants

Founded in 2018 and led by Kevin Dijkers, GIGA Storage is a developer, investor, and operator of large-scale energy storage projects in Europe. 

The company is trying to shut down gas and coal-fired power plants. The company does this by placing GIGA batteries in strategically smart places to manage sustainable energy storage optimally and to be able to supply energy at the right time. 

The Dutch company says placing batteries in strategic locations prevents congestion and guarantees grid stability.

Since its inception, the Dutch company has commissioned two projects and built a project pipeline of 12,500 MWh. 

In 2020, GIGA Storage, in collaboration with Wageningen University, realised the first large-scale energy storage project in the Netherlands, Rhino, in Lelystad.

This was followed by the Buffalo project (2022), also in Lelystad.

The utility-scale Leopard project (300MW, 1200 MWh) is currently under construction in Delfzijl.

GIGA Storage connects more renewable energy projects to the grid, resulting in more efficient use of the electricity grid.