Zelestra’s 2 GWh Italian Battery Storage Project Fully Secured After EnBW Agreement

Zelestra’s 2 GWh Italian Battery Storage Project Fully Secured After EnBW Agreement

(IN BRIEF) EnBW and Zelestra have signed a long-term tolling agreement covering 300 MW of four-hour battery storage capacity at Zelestra’s BESS project in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. The agreement gives EnBW access to around 1.2 GWh of flexibility and helps secure Zelestra’s wider 2 GWh battery storage project. Zelestra will build the project, while EnBW will offtake the agreed capacity under the tolling arrangement. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with full operations planned for 2028. The project is designed to support Italy’s power grid by improving flexibility, helping integrate more renewable energy and strengthening security of supply in a region with strong industrial electricity demand. The agreement also highlights the growing importance of long-term revenue structures in making large-scale standalone battery storage projects viable.

(PRESS RELEASE) KARLSRUHE, 16-Jul-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Zelestra has signed a long-term tolling agreement with EnBW for a 300 MW, four-hour battery energy storage share of Zelestra’s major BESS project in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy.

The agreement secures approximately 1.2 GWh of battery storage flexibility for EnBW and forms part of Zelestra’s wider battery storage project, which totals around 500 MW and 2 GWh of storage capacity.

Zelestra, a global renewable energy company, will build the battery storage project, while EnBW will offtake the agreed share of capacity under the long-term tolling arrangement.

The project is expected to begin construction in 2027, with full operations anticipated in 2028.

The agreement represents a significant development for utility-scale battery storage in Europe and highlights the growing importance of long-term contracted revenue models in enabling large standalone battery projects.

It also reflects the increasing need for flexible power capacity as renewable generation expands and electricity grids require additional support to balance supply and demand.

The battery storage project is located in Emilia-Romagna, a region with strong industrial electricity demand, increasing renewable energy penetration and a growing requirement for flexible capacity to support grid stability and resilience.

Once operational, the project is expected to help accelerate renewable integration, strengthen power system flexibility and support Italy’s decarbonisation objectives.

With this additional agreement, Zelestra’s 2 GWh battery storage project is now fully secured.

Olivia Barnes, Head of Energy Transition at EnBW, said battery storage is becoming a cornerstone of the modern energy system.

“For EnBW, the agreement is an important milestone in a strategically relevant market,” said Barnes.

She added that Italy’s rapidly growing renewables sector and evolving power market offer attractive opportunities for innovative flexibility solutions.

Barnes said EnBW is strengthening its role as an enabler and trusted partner for the energy transition by combining its flexibility expertise with Zelestra’s renewable development capabilities.

She added that the project will provide critical services to Italy’s power system and support a secure, low-carbon future.

Eliano Russo, Chief Executive Officer of Zelestra Italy, said Italy’s grid needs flexible capacity at scale.

“This agreement with EnBW is exactly the kind of long-term partnership that makes large storage assets possible,” said Russo.

He added that Zelestra’s Emilia-Romagna project will be one of Europe’s most consequential battery storage projects when it comes online.

Russo said Zelestra’s experience in developing battery storage projects in Spain, Germany and Italy, combined with EnBW’s presence across key European power markets, supports the structuring and delivery of large-scale storage projects.

He added that working with customers active in multiple markets can help accelerate flexible capacity deployment, support renewable integration, strengthen security of supply and benefit the wider European energy market.

Italy is one of Zelestra’s fastest-growing markets. The company aims to double its current 1.4 GW pipeline of solar and battery storage projects in the country this year.

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

About EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG

With around 31,500 employees, EnBW is one of the largest energy companies in Germany and Europe. Supplying energy to some 5.5 million customers, EnBW is active across all stages of the value chain, from generation and trading to grid operation and the sale of electricity, heat and gas. As part of its transformation from a traditional energy utility into a sustainable infrastructure partner, EnBW is focusing its growth strategy and investments on expanding the distribution and transmission grids for electricity, gas and hydrogen as well as on the further expansion of renewable energies. EnBW plans to invest up to €50 billion by 2030, around 85 percent of which in Germany. By then, around 80 percent of EnBW’s generation portfolio is to consist of renewable energies. These are key milestones on the company’s path to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations by 2040. www.enbw.com

About Zelestra

Zelestra is a vertically integrated company specializing in the development, commercialization, construction and operation of large-scale renewable energy projects. The company was recently ranked by BloombergNEF among the top 10 sellers of clean energy to corporate customers — both globally and in the US. Zelestra is backed by EQT, a leading global investment organization with more than €269 billion in assets under management.

Media Contact:

Sandra Naujoks
Communications Manager Trading
EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG
Durlacher Allee 93
76131 Karlsruhe
Phone: +49 721 6314575
s.naujoks@enbw.com

SOURCE: EnBW