How a battery earns in Belgium

Belgium runs a single national bidding zone operated by transmission system operator Elia, where the last 30 days of day-ahead prices swung by an average €162 /MWh — a spread worth 136% of the average price and the raw material a battery turns into revenue by charging low and discharging high. The grid is tightening as up to 3.5 GW of new North Sea offshore wind lines up behind the Princess Elisabeth Island and the Ventilus & Boucle du Hainaut onshore reinforcements due by 2030, making flexible storage increasingly valuable. Unlike Germany, Belgium offers real support: new grid batteries can win 15-year capacity contracts under Elia’s Capacity Remuneration Mechanism (CRM) — auctions have already catalysed over 1 GW of BESS — and transmission-connected standalone batteries currently enjoy a grid-fee exemption that materially lifts project economics. On top of arbitrage, a battery can stack FCR and aFRR balancing income, with Elia coupling into the PICASSO and MARI platforms.

€162/MWh

Day-ahead spread — 136% of the average price (30 days)

15yr contracts

Capacity Remuneration Mechanism (CRM) revenue for new grid batteries (Elia)

>1GW BESS

Battery capacity catalysed by Belgian CRM auctions; ~850 MW already operational