Schaatsbaan Rotterdam Installs 1MW Battery with Eneco to Strengthen Grid Support and Move Towards Cost-Neutral Energy

Schaatsbaan Rotterdam Installs 1MW Battery with Eneco to Strengthen Grid Support and Move Towards Cost-Neutral Energy

(IN BRIEF) Schaatsbaan Rotterdam has installed a 1MW on-site battery, managed by Eneco, to make its energy use more sustainable and to optimise its existing high-capacity grid connection throughout the year. The system allows surplus renewable electricity to be stored and later fed back into the grid, reducing pressure on the network when the rink is operating and helping to balance supply when it is not in use. The initiative supports the rink’s ambition to move towards nearly cost-neutral energy, building on its already efficient design, including a covered 400-metre track that saves around 60 per cent of lighting energy compared with an open layout.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROTTERDAM, 10-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Eneco is providing smart energy management for a newly installed 1 Megawatt (MW) battery at Schaatsbaan Rotterdam, marking a major step forward in making the skating rink’s energy system more sustainable, resilient, and future-proof. The large-scale battery will enable the facility to optimise its electricity use while also making better use of its existing high-capacity grid connection.

Each year, Schaatsbaan Rotterdam operates intensively for around four months, during which time it requires substantial amounts of electricity to maintain a high-quality ice surface. Outside this period, however, much of the site’s heavy-duty grid capacity remains underutilised. By integrating the on-site battery with Eneco’s intelligent energy management system, this capacity can now be actively used throughout the year to help stabilise the wider electricity network and support the rink’s ambition of achieving a nearly cost-neutral energy model.

The facility’s grid connection is sufficiently robust to allow the 1MW battery to store surplus renewable energy when supply is high and release electricity back to the grid during periods of increased demand. When the skating rink is operational, the battery will help reduce pressure on the grid by supplying stored energy instead of drawing additional power at peak times. When the rink is closed, the system will continue to play a valuable role by assisting with grid balancing and helping to alleviate local congestion in the electricity network.

In its pursuit of more sustainable and cost-efficient energy use, Schaatsbaan Rotterdam has long prioritised efficiency in both operations and design. This is reflected in features such as the enclosed tunnel structure with integrated lighting that covers the 400-metre track, which alone reduces energy consumption by around 60 per cent compared with an open-air design. With the addition of battery storage and Eneco’s smart energy management, the rink is now set to lower its energy costs even further while contributing to a more stable and sustainable regional energy grid.

Media Contact:

Rianne de Voogt
Senior woordvoerder
rianne.devoogt@eneco.com
+31 6 11418016

SOURCE: Eneco