- The agreement was signed against the backdrop of St Petersburg’s Economic Forum
- The batteries will allow for faster and more efficient train service
Moscow - Rome, May 25th, 2018 – Enel S.p.A. (“Enel”), acting through its advanced energy services unit Enel X and RusEnergoSbyt, the energy supplier[1] and joint venture between Enel and ESN, signed today a Partnership Agreement with Joint Stock Company Russian Railways (“RZhD”), whereby the two players will team up mainly for the development of innovative energy storage systems to be installed across the Country’s railway network. This is the first time this type of battery technology is used in the railway sector.
The agreement was signed by Enel CEO and General Manager, Francesco Starace and RZhD General Director, Belozerov Oleg Valentinovich against the backdrop of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum with the aim to help stabilise the Russian railway electricity grid, improve train operations as well as avoid expensive grid upgrades that might otherwise be required.
“This project is an excellent example of how we leverage on our global presence to bring new and innovative technologies to our most important markets around the world. Today’s announcement is an exciting step forward for Enel in Russia, and allows us to diversify further our storage portfolio which delivers solutions tailored to the specific requirements of customers and their market,” said Francesco Starace, Enel CEO and General Manager. “It is a pleasure to announce this cooperation with an important company like Russian Railways, with whom we have enjoyed a valuable and collaborative relationship over many years.”
Enel is a multinational power company and a leading integrated player in the global power, gas and renewables markets. It is Europe’s largest utility in terms of market capitalisation and figures among Europe’s leading power companies in terms of installed capacity and reported EBITDA. The Group is present in over 30 countries worldwide, producing energy with around 88 GW of managed capacity. Enel distributes electricity and gas through a network of over 2 million kilometres, and with over 65 million business and household customers globally, the Group has the largest customer base among European competitors. Enel’s renewables arm Enel Green Power already manages around 42 GW of wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydropower plants in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. Enel X is a new Enel global business line dedicated to developing innovative products and digital solutions in sectors in which energy is showing the greatest potential for transformation: cities, homes, industries and electric mobility.
[1] RusEnergoSbyt is also the energy supplier of Russian Railways RZhD.