Switzerland-based renewable energy producer Axpo has opened its first large-scale battery storage facility, located in the Swedish town of Landskrona, 570km south-west of Stockholm. The new 20MW/20MWh Li-ion-based battery storage facility will help “balance electricity supply in the region”, according to a press statement released by Axpo on Monday. The facility has been connected to the grid by Landskrona Energy, the local energy operator. “We will continue to expand our storage activities over the next few years,” said Frank Amend, group head of batteries and hybrid systems at Axpo. “The importance of large storage capacities is crucial in the course of the energy transition.” Lithium-based batteries are becoming an increasingly popular option for electric vehicle manufacturers as they are lighter and have a high energy density compared with their market competitors. According to GlobalData, Li-ion-phosphate will gradually overtake lead-acid batteries, which tend to be bigger and heavier, give off harmful gases and are less energy-dense. Experts forecast that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will account for 18% of the total market volume by 2025, with global BEV production reaching 17.3 million units. Torkild Strandberg, the chairman of Landskrona’s municipal board, attended the facility’s opening ceremony in Landskrona. Strandberg welcomed Axpo’s decision to open the battery-storage unit, adding: “Electricity consumption in Sweden is projected to increase significantly over the next ten to 20 years. This will require both new production and new measures to strengthen the power grid."