BESS Cerca - Co-located energy storage project
The Cerca Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project is part of EDP’s strategy to strengthen the role of storage in the energy transition, enabling a more efficient use of renewable electricity and supporting the development of a more flexible power system.
By integrating battery storage with solar generation, the project will help improve the management of renewable energy production and increase the ability to respond to grid needs, contributing to the decarbonisation of Portugal’s electricity sector.
The C21-i08/2024 call, launched under Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and managed by the Environmental Fund, aims to accelerate the deployment of energy storage in Portugal through the installation of at least 500 MW of storage systems connected to the Portuguese Public Electricity Grid (RESP), across both the Distribution Network (RND) and the Transmission Network (RNT). Under this call, eligible systems must be co-located with a renewable energy generation asset and ensure that at least 75% of the energy stored annually comes from that associated renewable source.
The call provides non-reimbursable financial support for eligible battery storage projects, covering part of the investment costs in accordance with the programme rules and applicable funding limits. For the Cerca BESS project, the total investment amounts to €26,762,518.00, of which €5,249,481.09 is covered by the approved grant.
With a total budget of approximately €99.75 million, the C21-i08/2024 call approved 43 projects across Portugal, including the Cerca BESS project, supporting the deployment of storage solutions that contribute to grid flexibility and the integration of renewable energy.
Located in the municipality of Alenquer, in the Lisbon district, the Cerca Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is co-located with the 202 MWp Cerca Solar PV Plant and shares the same grid connection point. The project is promoted by Fotovoltaica da Cerca, S.A. and is developed as a hybrid extension of the existing solar photovoltaic plant.
The main objective of the project is to add storage capacity to the solar plant, allowing renewable electricity to be stored and later injected into the Portuguese Public Electricity Grid (RESP) when needed. This will improve the use of solar generation, reduce the effects of intermittency and increase the flexibility of the electricity system.
The project will provide 120 MWh of energy storage, with a four-hour storage duration and a grid export capacity of 30 MW. Based on lithium-ion battery technology, the system is expected to support a more efficient management of renewable electricity and contribute to the security and stability of the national grid.
In line with the requirements of AAC No. 01/C21-i08/2024, at least 75% of the energy stored annually will be supplied by the co-located solar photovoltaic plant. The remaining share may be imported from the public electricity grid, within the limits established by the programme.
With a total investment of €26,762,518.00 and an approved grant of €5,249,481.09, the project started on 10 September 2024 and is scheduled for completion on 12 February 2028. As a result, the Cerca BESS will help increase the integration of renewable energy, optimise the existing grid connection and contribute to Portugal’s energy transition and decarbonisation objectives.
