France's Total to build 25 MW battery in Dunkirk

French oil and gas company Total is to build France's largest battery storage project to date at the Flandres Center at the port of Dunkirk, it said Thursday.

The 25-MW battery will be used to provide fast reserve services to support stability of the French power grid, Total said.

"Total's involvement in the electricity segment continues to expand," Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne said. "With more than 40% of the storage capacities allocated, Total was the leading winner of the first call for tenders organized by [French system operator] RTE."

Scheduled for commissioning in late 2020, the Eur15-million ($17-million) lithium-ion storage system is to comprise 11 integrated, 2.3-MWh containers, designed and manufactured at Saft's production site in Bordeaux.

In 2016 Total bought French battery manufacturer Saft for $1.1 billion, placing the company near the forefront of its efforts to diversify investment into lower-carbon electricity markets.

In February this year RTE awarded 377 MW of long term grid stability capacity contracts over two, seven-year periods, 2021-27 and 2022-28. Of this, 253 MW were storage projects.

Price guarantees for the first of the two periods averaged Eur29,000/MW and Eur28,000/MW for the second. Companies successful in both periods were Neoen, RES, Total, Voltalis and ZE Energy.