Enel X is helping Aeroporti di Roma (AdR, the company that manages Rome’s two main airports) take another step forward in its decarbonization journey. Specifically, Enel X and AdR have begun a new phase of the PIONEER project. After having started the construction of one of Europe’s largest photovoltaic (PV) plants to help power the Rome Fiumicino hub, the two companies announced the start of construction of a second-life Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in March. This system uses end-of-life e-mobility batteries that are perfectly reusable and suitable for stationary purposes. This innovative project was made possible by the European Commission’s Innovation Fund.
The innovative system was entrusted to Enel X, which handled its design and integration within the airport’s energy infrastructure. It is working closely with Loccioni, which was selected as the system’s integrator, bringing to the project its expertise in connecting the energy and e-mobility domains. Enel X also will develop BESS’s innovative energy management systems in order to optimize operation. When fully operational, BESS will be able to store up to 10 MWh of green energy for the airport’s terminals, while simultaneously providing flexibility services to the grid.
The activity developed by Enel X’s innovative work will help AdR in the optimization of its energy performance, thereby supporting its efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions. The project marks a further step toward the validation of innovative approaches in BESS, which is considered one of most important enablers for grid stability and the adoption of renewable energy.