PVTIME – International renewable energy developer Nala Renewables has formally moved its Vuolijoki battery energy storage facility in Finland into the active construction phase following the issuance of an official notice to proceed. With a power output of 125MW and a storage capacity of 250MWh, this project is one of the most significant grid-connected battery projects to begin in Finland in recent years.
Dutch financial institution Rabobank has provided long-term project financing to support the development of the utility-scale asset. Designed primarily for grid support functions, the BESS will deliver frequency regulation, peak load management and surplus renewable power absorption once commissioned. It will help stabilise Finland’s power network as the country increases its use of variable wind power.
Multiple industry partners are engaged across different workstreams for the Vuolijoki project. Sungrow will supply the core battery hardware, while Despro will take charge of engineering, procurement and construction management. Local firm Destia Oy will handle the balance-of-plant civil works. Upon breaking ground, this development will increase Nala Renewables’ total Finnish BESS portfolio to 275MW/550MWh, combining assets at various stages, from energised facilities to shovel-ready developments.
Grid-scale battery capacity remains comparatively limited in Finland, so the progress of the Vuolijoki project marks a significant milestone in the country’s energy transition. The project shows how third-party investors and banking capital are speeding up the deployment of standalone storage solutions to address grid bottlenecks caused by the expansion of wind power output.
