Zelestra, EnBW sign agreement for 300MW Italian battery storage project

Zelestra and EnBW have entered into a long-term tolling agreement for a 300MW share of a planned battery energy storage project in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

The project, which will have an approximate total capacity of 500MW and deliver four-hour storage, is expected to provide more than 1.2GW-hours (GWh) of flexibility for Italy's power grid.

Construction is scheduled to commence in 2027, with full operations anticipated in 2028.

Under the terms of the agreement, Zelestra will construct the battery storage system and EnBW will offtake 300MW of storage capacity.

This arrangement aims to support system flexibility as the integration of renewable energy grows within Italy's power market.

With the conclusion of this deal, Zelestra says its 2GWh battery storage project in Emilia-Romagna is now fully secured.

The site is situated in an area with high industrial electricity consumption and rising renewable generation, driving a need for increased grid flexibility.

Zelestra Italy CEO Eliano Russo said: "The Italian grid needs flexible capacity, and it needs it at scale. This agreement with EnBW is exactly the kind of long-term partnership that makes large storage assets possible, and our project in Emilia Romagna will be one of Europe's most consequential projects when it comes online.

"Zelestra's experience developing battery storage projects in Spain, Germany and Italy, combined with EnBW's presence and expertise across key European power markets, helps make these major projects easier to structure and deliver.

"By working with customers operating in multiple markets, we can accelerate the deployment of flexible capacity at scale, supporting renewable integration, strengthening security of supply and benefitting the wider European energy market."

Italy remains a key market for Zelestra, which is aiming to double its 1.4GW project pipeline of solar and battery storage within the year.

In December 2025, Zelestra also secured contracts covering nine projects in Italy's FER X auctions, enabling construction of up to 168MW of new solar capacity.

Last month, the company signed a new power purchase agreement with Meta for the 180MW-direct current Palmera Solar Plant in Freestone County, Texas, US.

"Zelestra, EnBW sign agreement for 300MW Italian battery storage project" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.