France-based renewable energy player Voltalia has commissioned the Mana battery storage project at the Toco storage complex located in French Guiana. With a capacity of 10 MW/ 13.6 MWh, the Mana project adds on to the existing capacity at the Toco complex, bringing the total installed storage capacity to 12.6 MW/16.5 MWh. A further 0.5 MW/0.6 MWh battery storage capacity is under construction.
The initial 2.6 MW/2.9 MWh battery storage project was constructed to back up power from a 3.8 MW Savane des Pères solar power plant at the Toco complex. The Mana storage project is the latest addition to the complex making it one of the largest operational battery storage systems in France. The project has two units meeting two distinct goals: charge the batteries during off-peak hours to discharge them during peak hours and release additional power to the grid very quickly to improve the quality of service.
The entire project has been developed by Voltalia and is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project was selected as the main winner of a call for project proposals in 2018 from the French Energy Regulatory Commission. The project has 10-year remuneration contracts.