Battery energy storage system (BESS)

Dispatch Moonstone: large-scale battery storage for a more stable electricity grid

More solar and wind power on the grid is good news. But it also makes the electricity system more variable. Large-scale storage is therefore essential. With Moonstone, Dispatch is developing a battery energy storage system, or BESS, in the Port of Antwerp. Sweco supported the permitting process and, at the same time, built valuable expertise in grid connections and cable routes for large-scale energy infrastructure.

Expertise:: Energy solutions
Client: Dispatch
Location: Port of Antwerp
Services: Battery storage (BESS), permitting and grid connections
Partner: Elia (grid connection)

The challenge: a stable grid in a system with more renewable energy

Solar and wind generation fluctuate. As a result, mismatches between supply and demand are becoming more frequent. Without sufficient flexibility, opportunities are lost: renewable energy may need to be curtailed, while peak loads place additional pressure on the grid. Battery storage helps absorb these fluctuations and keep the grid stable.

The growing need for batteries goes hand in hand with the need to expand and reinforce the electricity grid. To meet the increasing number of connection requests, transmission system operator Elia allows developers such as Dispatch to develop the cable route themselves, from permitting through to acquisition and construction. This gives developers an opportunity to accelerate their projects, but it also requires expert guidance from partners such as Sweco.

The solution: 300 MW / 1,200 MWh battery storage in the Port of Antwerp

Moonstone comprises a 300 MW / 1,200 MWh battery energy storage system. The project is located in an existing industrial port environment, close to a high-voltage substation. This enables efficient grid integration with limited additional infrastructure.

The project location was carefully selected, taking into account its impact on flora and fauna, as well as maintaining sufficient distance from residential areas.

Sweco’s role: one permit for the battery park and the full cable route

Sweco submitted the permit application for Moonstone. The cable route between the Elia connection point and the battery park’s high-voltage substation was fully integrated into the same application.

According to Arjan Missinne, Team Manager Energy for Industry, Moonstone is one of the first projects in Belgium in which the full route between the grid connection and the battery installation formed part of a single permitting process. This approach is crucial, as grid connections are increasingly becoming a decisive factor in the lead times of energy projects.

Elia is offering companies a way to help tackle grid congestion more quickly. Companies that choose to develop the cable route themselves can accelerate the overall project timeline. Thanks to projects such as Moonstone, we have developed a strong approach for this type of project.

Arjan Missinne, Team Manager Energy for Industry

Sweco’s services in this project

Permitting and environmental coordination

Preparation and submission of the permit application
Coordination of all components within one coherent permitting process
Stakeholder management, including coordination with Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Elia and the Province of Antwerp

Cable route and grid connection

Design of the cable route
Integration of the full cable route into the permit application
Alignment with the grid context
Integration of the high-voltage connection and battery park into an industrial environment

Multidisciplinary support

Support in coordinating project partners and technical disciplines
Focus on feasibility, timing and clear documentation

Looking ahead: ready for Part B connection projects

The experience gained on Moonstone aligns closely with Elia’s new approach to Part B connection projects. From September 2026, industrial clients will be able to choose to have the cable route between an Elia substation and their own installation engineered and permitted themselves, if desired with support from an engineering partner.

Sweco supports Part B connection projects with:

Cable route design between grid connections and energy installations, from route definition and preliminary design through to detailed design
Cable section calculations and magnetic field assessments in line with Elia’s requirements
Multidisciplinary design and procurement support for energy installations and high-voltage substations
Permitting for the complete project as one integrated application
Stakeholder management
Follow-up during the execution of works, including the cable route, energy installation and grid connection

Impact and conclusion

Moonstone helps Belgium move towards a more robust and renewable energy system. The project supports:

Greater integration of renewable energy
A more stable electricity grid
Storage of surplus solar and wind power
Availability of energy during periods of higher demand
Acceleration of the energy transition

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