Batteries: Zhero signs agreement with Tesla Energy for 3 gigawatt-hours of capacity
CEO Pasini said: “This initiative, combined with interconnection projects to import energy such as Medlink, will make a significant contribution to reducing energy costs for Italian businesses and households.”
Key points
Zhero, a company specialising in the development of green energy infrastructure, has signed a framework agreement with Tesla Energy providing for long-term contracts for storage capacity in Italia of approximately 3 gigawatt-hours and contracts for the construction of storage facilities. This is the first agreement of its kind in Italy and provides for the launch of the first 200 megawatts of projects ready for construction in central and southern Italy, which will be developed in partnership with H1, one of South Africa’s leading independent power producers and developers. These facilities are expected to come on stream in early 2028. The initiative forms part of the wider pipeline of energy storage systems totalling over 1.5 GW that Zhero is developing in Italia.
Megapack batteries are at the heart of the agreement
Tesla Energy will supply Megapack batteries, one of the most advanced technologies currently available for large-scale energy storage. In addition to supplying the technology, Tesla will also contribute to the construction of the plants through EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contracts, with the aim of speeding up their commissioning and ensuring greater certainty regarding timelines and costs.
Pasini: this is how we will help to reduce energy costs for businesses and households
“We are proud that Tesla has chosen Zhero as its partner for the Megapack battery and energy management projects for the Italian market and businesses,” said Alessandra Pasini, CEO of Zhero Europe. “ “This initiative, combined with interconnection projects to import energy such as Medlink, will make a significant contribution to reducing energy costs for Italian businesses and households.”
Alverà’s return to full-time duty
The agreement with Tesla also marks the first deal concluded by Zhero since the return of co-founder Marco Alverà to full-time duties; in recent months, he had decided to step down from the operational leadership of the European company Tes, having grown the business and facilitated the succession, whilst remaining a co-founder and member of the board of directors.
The project timetable
The strategic significance of the agreement lies in providing Zhero’s projects with a distinctive ‘route to market’ through long-term commercial agreements that will enable the company to capitalise on its storage capacity in the energy markets. Zhero is currently developing over 1.5 GW of large-scale storage systems spread across the north, centre-south, south and the islands. The first 200 MW have already been authorised and construction is due to begin shortly, whilst several other plants are expected to be authorised in the coming months. The strategic agreement with Tesla also covers the forthcoming large-scale storage projects in Zhero’s pipeline that are due to be authorised.
