Centrica Energy and Renner Energies are pleased to announce the signing of a five-year Flexibility Purchase Agreement (FPA) agreement for a new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) currently under construction in Virton, Belgium. The project marks Renner Energies’ first investment in battery storage, and a first-of-its-kind FPA in Belgium, where a portion of the revenue is non-merchant exposed and therefore guaranteed to support bankability of the project.
With commissioning expected in the summer of 2026, the Virton BESS project will strengthen Belgium’s electricity grid by providing fast-response flexibility services, facilitating the integration of increased renewable generation, and enabling participation in Belgian energy and ancillary service markets. The partial fixed-price product structure reflects a first-of-its-kind signed agreement in Belgium and allows Renner Energies to mitigate merchant risk while benefitting from performance-driven returns.
Under the agreement, Centrica Energy will provide route to market and optimisation services across wholesale, imbalance, and Ancillary Services markets, leveraging its real-time cross-market trading capabilities to maximise the asset’s commercial performance. To enhance project bankability and support investment certainty, Centrica will contractually guarantee part of the asset’s revenues for 5 years, ensuring a stable financial foundation during the early years of operation.
The Virton project is part of a growing wave of Belgian storage developments. Built on Alfen’s proven modular platform, the system reflects the increasing need for fast-acting flexibility as Belgium accelerates its energy transition. Centrica Energy’s involvement from early commercial discussions through financial close highlights the importance of strong partnerships in bringing first-time battery investors into the market.
About Centrica Energy
Centrica Energy is the energy trading and optimisation arm of Centrica plc, responsible for managing commodity risk and sourcing energy on behalf of Centrica Group’s energy supply activities.
Centrica Energy is a global energy trading company which helps move energy from source to use powering businesses, homes, and societies. Across 8 offices on three continents, and with 800+ passionate and highly skilled energy experts, they trade power, gas, liquified natural gas and green certificates, connecting energy producers, suppliers and offtakers in wholesale energy markets.
Centrica Energy is one of the largest renewable asset managers in Europe, with over 19.5 GW of capacity under contract, of which more than 85% is renewable assets.
About Renner Energies
Since 2002, we have been developing solar, wind and battery projects in close collaboration with local and national stakeholders — citizens, public authorities, associations and institutions. Together, we develop, finance, build and operate renewable energy projects that actively support the energy transition and a low‑carbon future. Through ongoing and transparent dialogue with all parties involved, we ensure that every project integrates seamlessly and sustainably into its local environment.
Today, we rely on more than 20 years of experience and the expertise of 80 professionals from over 8 nationalities, with women representing around 40% of our workforce. Operating from 7 offices across Belgium, France and Spain our teams manage innovative and ambitious projects from initial concept through to long‑term operation.
Across these three countries, we currently support more than 150 renewable energy projects, representing a total capacity of approximately 3.6 GW, including 141 MW already in operation.
