HESS Plans to Expand Battery Energy Storage Capacity by 2030

Slovenian company HESS has officially opened the FEBR-D1 and FEBR-D2 solar power plants at the Brežice hydropower plant complex, marking further progress in the development of renewable energy sources along the lower Sava River. The new facilities complement the first large-scale solar power plant at the site, which began operating three years ago, according to a HESS press release.

The solar power plants were built on a sediment deposit site next to the reservoir of the Brežice hydropower plant, making further use of existing energy infrastructure for renewable electricity generation.

According to the Energetske Novice portal, HESS is also considering the construction of larger battery energy storage systems by 2030. Potential locations include the Brežice hydropower plant area and sites of existing and planned solar power plants.

At the opening ceremony of the FEBR-D1 and FEBR-D2 solar power plants, HESS Director Boštjan Pišotek highlighted market trends increasingly pointing to the need to combine solar power plants with battery energy storage systems.

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“Current trends and market responses show that the only reasonable approach is to build solar power plants together with battery energy storage systems,” Pišotek emphasised.

He identified the FEBR-D1 solar power plant as one potential candidate for such an upgrade. The facility feeds electricity into the distribution network operated by Elektro Celje. According to Pišotek, the plant has suitable conditions for the subsequent installation of a battery storage system.

Dr Ambrož Božiček, project manager for the FEBR-D1, FEBR-D2 and FEBR-D3 solar power plants at HESS, explained that batteries were not included in the original plans because project development began before the energy storage market experienced its rapid growth. Revising the project design at a later stage would present an additional challenge.

Hydropower Plant Mokrice: Another Major Project

According to the HESS press release, further development of the energy complex along the lower Sava River is also planned. One of the key projects is the Mokrice hydropower plant, the final planned link in the chain of hydropower plants on the river. In addition to generating electricity, the project is expected to contribute to flood protection and water management.

The opening of the new solar power plants further strengthens the integration of hydropower and solar energy within the broader energy system of the Posavje region, where nuclear energy also plays an important role. The aim is to make more efficient use of domestic low-carbon energy sources and strengthen the reliability of electricity supply.

Energy portal