The first BESS energy storage system has been launched in Sicily

The Italian energy group ERG S.p.A., one of the largest renewable energy producers in Europe, has launched its first electrochemical energy storage system with a capacity of 12.5 MW and 50 MWh in Vicari, Sicily. The installation, based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology, was fully designed, built, and commissioned by NHOA Energy, which acted as both the system supplier and general contractor.

Integration of BESS with wind farms
The Vicari BESS system is located within the ERG Vicari substation, which also connects nearby Vicari and Roccapalumba wind farms. This setup creates an integrated hybrid system, enabling efficient balancing of fluctuations in wind energy production and improving the stability and flexibility of the local electricity network.

The system developed by NHOA uses proprietary solutions for the Power Conversion System and Power Plant Controller, providing intelligent energy flow management and dynamic grid interaction. The storage system can store energy for up to four hours, allowing renewable generation to be shifted in time and used during periods of higher demand.

According to Fabrizio Ciacci, Vice President of NHOA Energy for the EMEA region, the project “significantly increases the flexibility of Sicily’s electricity system and serves as a model example of technological cooperation supporting Italy’s and the European Union’s decarbonization goals.”

It is worth noting that NHOA has already completed two projects in Sicily — in Ciminna (Storage Lab Terna) and Salemi (Fast Reserve Unit). NHOA will also provide a five-year operation and maintenance (O&M) service for the new storage facility.

Energy storage as a pillar of Italy’s energy transition
The launch of the Vicari BESS aligns with national and European trends of accelerating investments in energy storage. The Italian market, like those in Spain and the UK, is rapidly increasing the number of battery projects. In this context, Sicily is becoming a laboratory for energy transition, thanks to its high wind and solar potential and growing number of storage installations.

For ERG, the project is strategic and experimental. As emphasized by ERG CEO Paolo Merli, Vicari BESS will serve as a platform for gaining operational knowledge and testing real-time energy management models. The company has announced that it will leverage this experience to expand its portfolio of battery projects in Italy, the UK, and Spain, some of which are already in advanced preparation stages.

The Vicari BESS project was also featured in the nationwide campaign “I Cantieri della Transizione Ecologica” organized by Legambiente, where it was highlighted as an example of technological innovation and sustainable development in southern Italy.