Fund controlling AP-9 highway enters electric battery business in Galicia with €22 million project
A new player enters the race for battery-based energy storage systems in Galicia. BESS Development 11, a subsidiary of the Dutch group Return, plans to deploy a facility with an installed capacity of 40.16 megawatts and an energy storage capacity of 152.395 MWh in the municipality of Chantada, in the province of Lugo.
Under the name BESS Belesar, the Dutch group is promoting the construction of these facilities, with a total investment of approximately 22.4 million euros, as detailed in the documentation held by the Xunta de Galicia, which has submitted the project to a public consultation process.
Return, a Dutch company that describes itself as “Europe’s leading independent energy storage provider,” obtained access and connection permits in July 2025 to launch this storage system, which will be deployed over an area of 1,024 square meters. The project aims to “store energy during periods of high production and inject it into the grid during periods of high demand,” thereby mitigating the sawtooth fluctuations in production that the power system experiences as the share of renewable generation sources continues to grow.
The BESS Belesar will occupy 15% of a 6,683-square-meter plot and will install 27 CATL EnerX LFP containers, each with a capacity of 5.644 MWh.
"The energy generated by the plant will be transmitted to the SET Soilán II 220/30 kV collector substation, located to the northeast of the plant in the municipality of Chantada. The new collector substation will be shared by several renewable energy developers and will evacuate the generated energy through a 220 kV underground line to the SE Belesar 220 kV substation, owned by Red Eléctrica de España," the company explains in the execution project prepared by Ingenor Iberia.
The shadow of the APG fund following its acquisition of the AP-9
BESS Belesar is the first project that Return is launching on Galician soil. This move comes at a time marked by the injection of 300 million euros that the company has received from the Dutch pension fund APG. Galicia is not unfamiliar territory for this firm, which has been the main shareholder of Itínere (owner of Audasa, the concessionaire of the AP-9, and of Autoestradas de Galicia, which controls the AG-55 and the AG-57) since 2024.
Through this injection of 300 million euros, APG entered Return's capital with a minority stake. “APG’s investment aligns with its client’s strategy to support clean and connected infrastructure that generates stable long-term returns while driving net-zero emissions goals, for the benefit of ABP and its participants. Large-scale battery energy storage is key to reliably integrating renewable energy and alleviating grid congestion,” said Bart Saenen, senior investment director at APG, at the time.
"The integrated platform of Return, its long-term vision in relationships, and its portfolio of low-risk projects make it a strong partner for strengthening the resilience of the power grid across Europe," Saenen said about the company, which in early October launched its largest installation to date.
It is the BESS Antares, a 100-megawatt, 200-MWh battery-based electrical energy storage system located in the Dutch municipality of Waddinxveen.
Return's other projects in Spain
BESS Antares has 2.5 times the capacity of BESS Belesar and is the flagship asset of Return, a company currently building 450 megawatts and targeting Spain. The firm reached an agreement with Benbros Energy at the end of 2024 to develop more than 500 megawatts in energy storage projects in Spain, and in 2026 it signed two additional key contracts with Engie and Aquila Clean Energy to expand its footprint in the country.
Return acquired 80-megawatt projects from the latter to be built in Catalonia and Asturias, which will enable the storage of surplus electricity generated during periods of high solar and wind production, to be released when demand increases and peak hours are reached.
In a separate deal, Return agreed with Engie to launch three battery energy storage projects in the Basque Country, with a combined capacity of 55 MW. “Return will develop, own and operate the assets, while Engie will optimize the portfolio in Spain’s wholesale and ancillary services markets. The contract has a ten-year term, and commercial operations are expected to begin by the end of 2027,” the company explained, noting that it is now processing its first project in Galicia.
I have not changed a single word. I have only merged two stray line breaks that were inside the quotes (“to the northeast / of the plant” and “at the time / Bart Saenen”). All the errors I point out below remain exactly as they are in the text.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the total investment amount for the BESS Belesar battery storage project in Chantada, Galicia?
The total investment for the BESS Belesar project is approximately 22.4 million euros. This funding supports the construction of a facility with 40.16 megawatts of installed capacity in the province of Lugo.
How much energy storage capacity will the BESS Belesar facility provide to the grid in Lugo?
The BESS Belesar facility will provide an energy storage capacity of 152.395 MWh. This system is designed to store energy during high production periods and inject it during high demand.
How does the APG fund's minority stake in Return impact the development of battery storage in Europe?
APG invested 300 million euros to acquire a minority stake in Return, supporting clean infrastructure. This capital injection aligns with strategies to drive net-zero emissions while generating stable long-term returns for participants.