Mourik lays foundation for renewable energy storage

Battery parks are becoming increasingly important in the transition to sustainable and CO2-neutral energy. Storing (renewable) energy helps balance the electricity grid and creates flexibility in our energy system. After all, this is becoming increasingly dependent on variable sources such as wind and solar. British energy company Centrica is investing in the battery energy storage system (BESS) of Dutch company Alfen and has chosen Ostend as the location for Centrica's first battery park in continental Europe. Mourik was asked to do the structural, civil work to lay the foundation for the battery park. Extra complexity: the battery park is located on a chemical plant, with all its particularities and safety requirements.

Soil and groundwater remediation

Energy is familiar territory for us. We carry out a great deal of work for Elia, so the switch to this battery farm was not such a significant challenge. It was also to be integrated into Elia's high-voltage power network. However, some things needed to addressed before work could begin. Specifically, the soil and groundwater were found to be contaminated and therefore required remediation. This was carried out ex-situ, meaning that we transported the contaminated soil to the GRC (soil recycling centre) in Kallo. Mourik is a member of this soil recycling centre. Next, we covered the soil with a layer of special textile material, with a layer of clean soil on top of it. We also needed to clean the groundwater. We pumped out the contaminated water and transported it away for purification via containers and tankers.

Civil works and infrastructure battery park

The civil engineering works comprised a wide range of activities. The first of these was the civil engineering of the battery farm, taking account of the special location. We then undertook the dismantling works, pile-driving, and the construction of the foundations for the battery farm, inverters and transformers. We laid approximately 12 kilometres of cables in the battery farm. Not only that – we took care of all infrastructural works on and around the site, such as the roads on the site, not forgetting efforts to make the site aesthetically pleasing, with grass, flowers and even fencing.

Our added value in this project was, as is often the case, the sum of the expertise we could provide: civil engineering work through to finishing touches, plus environmental technology in this case. The project would certainly have ground to a halt without that expertise. We have extensive experience in working at high-voltage sites and previous battery farms. What is more, we feel at home on complex industrial sites, such as this chemical plant with all of its safety requirements and protocols. Mourik has experience in all markets.