e-STORAGE and Axpo Partner on First Joint Battery Project in Italy
KITCHENER, ON, June 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Canadian Solar Inc. (the “Company” or “Canadian Solar”) (NASDAQ: CSIQ) today announced that e-STORAGE, its energy storage solutions business, has entered into an agreement with Axpo subsidiary to deploy an 8 MW/40 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in southern Italy. This marks e-STORAGE’s first project in Italy, a further step in its expansion across continental Europe.
Construction at Axpo’s Rizziconi power plant in Calabria is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026, with grid connection and commercial operation expected in early 2028. The battery storage system will be installed at Axpo’s existing combined-cycle gas power plant in Rizziconi, Calabria, leveraging its established grid interconnection to provide flexibility and balancing services.
Under the agreement, e-STORAGE will deliver a complete and integrated solution that combines SolBank 3.0 battery blocks, power conversion systems, and the company’s proprietary EQ-S Energy Management System into a single coordinated system under one accountable partner. The battery cells and 5 MWh capacity SolBank 3.0 pack systems are developed and manufactured at Canadian Solar’s own production facilities, providing customers with complete supply chain visibility. Today’s announced installation marks the first milestone in a wider partnership between e-STORAGE and Axpo, with both firms planning to strengthen their collaboration in the years ahead.
The Rizziconi project is a specific response to conditions in southern Italy, where rising solar output regularly exceeds what the network can absorb by midday. Historically, Calabria has faced higher power costs and weaker grid connectivity than northern Italy, which makes local flexibility especially valuable. The e-STORAGE system will capture solar energy that would otherwise be wasted and return it to the grid when needed. This will ease the pressure on a constrained network and help lower the cost of electricity for a region of Italy that has long depended on distant supplies of energy from the north and elsewhere.
Frank Amend, Axpo Group Head of Batteries & Hybrid Systems, said: “We are excited to begin the construction of our first BESS project in Italy. This will be an important addition to our portfolio as we execute our ambitious BESS strategy to strengthen grid flexibility and advance the energy transition in Europe. We are also excited to partner with e-STORAGE on this project. Their integrated approach aligns with our commitment to delivering reliable and innovative energy solutions across Europe.”
Jeff Roy, President of e-STORAGE, added: “To enter one of Europe’s most dynamic storage markets through an integrated project like this proves just how effectively our technology can adapt to real grid needs. We are pleased to begin our partnership with Axpo in Italy and see this agreement as the foundation for a longer-term collaboration supporting customers across Europe.”
