World’s Largest Vanadium Flow Battery – Invinity & Equans
August 30, 2026 — The FlexBase Technology Centre Laufenburg, known as TZL, is a purpose‑built AI datacentre campus that will host the world’s largest vanadium flow battery. The system delivers 1.5 GWh of stored energy, with a design that can be expanded to 2.1 GWh. This vanadium flow battery 1.5 GWh installation will become a cornerstone of large‑scale energy storage Switzerland strategies, providing grid‑balancing services for renewable power and high‑performance computing workloads.
Key specifications:
- Capacity: 1.5 GWh (expandable to 2.1 GWh)
- Technology: Vanadium redox flow, long‑duration storage
- Location: Laufenburg, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland
- Purpose: AI datacentre energy storage, grid stability, BESS market acceleration
EPC Agreement Details
Equans Switzerland has been appointed as the Equans Switzerland EPC partner under an EPC contract renewable energy framework. The firm will deliver mechanical, electrical, piping, and ancillary services required to integrate the flow battery into the TZL campus.
- Mechanical work: Tank fabrication, pump installation, and structural supports
- Electrical scope: Power conversion systems, high‑voltage switchgear, and SCADA integration
- Piping & instrumentation: Electrolyte circulation loops, safety valves, and monitoring sensors
- Ancillary services: Fire protection, HVAC, and site civil works
The engineering phase is on track, with detailed design packages for the electrolyte loop and power electronics completed in Q2 2024. They set construction to begin in Q4 2024, with a target for commercial operation by mid-2026.
Strategic Benefits of the Collaboration
The partnership builds on a successful joint venture in Belgium (2022), where Invinity Energy Systems and Equans delivered a 100 MWh vanadium flow battery. The TZL project applies lessons learned on stack management and digital twins, accelerating commissioning and reducing risk.
- Accelerated market entry: Positions Switzerland as a leader in battery energy storage systems BESS for AI workloads.
- Grid resilience: Provides fast frequency response and long‑duration discharge, essential for the country’s renewable energy transition.
- Economic impact: Creates high‑skill jobs and supports local supply chains in the large‑scale energy storage Switzerland sector.
Quotes from Leadership
Claudio Picech, CEO – Equans Switzerland: “We are proud to partner with Invinity for this landmark project, a market leader in high quality, flexible, high-throughput BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), with whom Equans also works in other countries. The award recognizes our expertise in delivering complex energy and infrastructure projects and reinforces our commitment to supporting Switzerland’s energy transition through innovative and sustainable technologies. Together with Invinity and FlexBase, we are helping to establish a new benchmark for large-scale energy storage.”
Jonathan Marren, CEO – Invinity Energy Systems: “The successful deployment of a project of this scale requires a delivery partner with exceptional technical capabilities, a strong safety culture and deep local expertise. Equans Switzerland demonstrated all of these qualities throughout our demanding evaluation process and has proven to be the ideal partner to support the delivery of this landmark project.”
Source: Invinity
Future Outlook
Following the initial 1.5 GWh deployment, Invinity plans to scale the system to 2.1 GWh, leveraging modular stack designs. The successful installation of the TZL is expected to inspire other regions across Europe to initiate similar projects, especially those seeking long-duration storage to integrate renewable energy.
Potential replication pathways include:
- Industrial parks requiring reliable, low‑carbon power
- Data‑centre clusters seeking on‑site storage for AI workloads
- Cross‑border interconnectors needing grid‑scale balancing
Stay updated on Renewable Storage News for the latest developments in AI datacentre energy storage and large‑scale BESS projects.
Energy Market Analyst specializing in global energy markets, pricing trends, market intelligence, and the transition toward cleaner energy systems. Passionate about analyzing data, identifying emerging opportunities, and turning complex market developments into actionable insights for businesses and investors.