Akuo Launches Portugal's Largest Battery Storage Project to Boost Renewables
French energy company Akuo is set to begin construction on its first large-scale battery storage project in mainland Europe. The SantasBAT facility, located in Borba, Portugal, will pair with an existing 181MW solar farm and aims to store energy for 2.75 hours. Funding for the project includes €15 million from Portugal's Recovery and Resilience scheme.
The SantasBAT battery energy storage system (BESS) will be integrated into Akuo's operational Santas solar PV plant. Its purpose is to shift solar-generated electricity to periods of higher demand, helping balance supply and consumption. Completion is expected by the second quarter of 2027.
Akuo, headquartered in France, has prior experience with battery projects on islands but has not previously developed a large-scale BESS on mainland Europe. While the company has handled in-house system integration for some past projects, it has not confirmed whether it will take the same approach in Portugal. Portugal's push for energy storage follows last year's blackout across the Iberian Peninsula, which exposed vulnerabilities in the grid. The country now plans a new auction for large-scale storage solutions. Over the past year, other independent power producers—including Sonnedix, Hyperion, Voltalia, and NGEN—have advanced their own storage projects in Portugal to the construction phase. The SantasBAT project aligns with Portugal's broader goal of reaching 85% renewable energy in its production mix by 2030. However, no large battery storage projects exceeding 50MW have yet become operational or entered construction since the 2023 blackout.
The SantasBAT project marks a significant step for Akuo in mainland Europe and supports Portugal's renewable energy targets. With €15 million in public funding and a planned 2027 completion, the facility will help manage solar output during peak demand. The initiative also reflects Portugal's ongoing efforts to strengthen grid resilience after recent power failures.
