Energy Vault Holdings, Inc., one of the global leaders in sustainable grid-scale energy storage and AI compute infrastructure solutions, on May 27th, announced the successful completion of its previously announced acquisition of an 850 MW Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) development portfolio in Japan from BayWa r.e. AG, one of the leading global renewable energy developers and independent power producers.
The closing of the transaction officially establishes Energy Vault’s operational presence in Japan, one of the most attractive and structurally advantaged energy storage markets among developed economies. The acquisition provides Energy Vault with an immediate in-country platform, a premium project pipeline, and a highly experienced local development team with deep expertise in land rights, regulatory permitting, and utility interconnections — capabilities that are essential to scaling successfully in Japan’s complex and rapidly growing energy storage market.
The team and portfolio were carefully selected and originate from BayWa r.e., one of the world’s most sophisticated renewable energy platforms. For Energy Vault, the strategic value of the acquisition extends beyond megawatts alone: it adds proven local execution capability, accelerates market entry, and positions the Company to build a long-term owned-asset platform in a market with strong demand for flexible, reliable, and dispatchable energy storage.
The acquired portfolio includes approximately 350 MW of advanced-stage BESS projects expected to reach Notice to Proceed (“NTP”) in the second half of 2027, with Commercial Operation Dates (“COD”) expected to begin in mid-2028. An additional 500 MW of early-stage projects provides a multi-year development runway and meaningful expansion potential as Energy Vault scales its Japanese platform. Importantly, the advanced-stage projects are expected to be configured with three hours of storage duration. This provides greater energy capacity per MW than shorter-duration BESS projects more commonly seen in other markets, including the United States, and is expected to enhance the long-term revenue potential and asset value of the portfolio. In addition, Japan’s relatively low cost of financing further strengthens project-level economics, making the market particularly attractive for Energy Vault’s asset ownership strategy.
“This acquisition marks a significant step in Energy Vault’s global growth strategy and establishes our direct operating platform in one of the world’s most compelling energy storage markets,” said Robert Piconi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Energy Vault. “By completing this acquisition, we have secured not only a premium BESS development portfolio, but also an experienced local team from one of the most respected renewable energy platforms globally in BayWa Renewables. Japan’s need for flexible, reliable storage is accelerating, and Energy Vault is well-positioned to deliver projects at scale while creating long-term, predictable value for our shareholders.”
“Japan is a strategically important market for energy storage, and we are pleased to have successfully transferred this high-quality portfolio to Energy Vault,” said Daniel Gaefke, Group Chief Operating Officer of BayWa r.e. “This transaction reflects BayWa r.e.’s ability to originate, develop, and monetise premium renewable energy assets globally. With its integrated technology platform, execution capability, and asset ownership strategy, Energy Vault is well-positioned to advance these projects and support Japan’s energy transition.”
The formal addition of BayWa r.e.’s Japanese portfolio brings Energy Vault’s global owned asset base — including acquired, under-construction, and operating assets — to more than 1 GW across energy storage and AI compute infrastructure. Once fully constructed and operational, this growing owned-asset portfolio is expected to support more than $180M in anticipated annual recurring EBITDA, reinforcing Energy Vault’s transition toward a capital-efficient, recurring revenue business model.
With the acquisition now closed, Energy Vault intends to continue scaling its Japanese presence by advancing the acquired projects, evaluating additional development opportunities, and deploying storage solutions tailored to Japan’s grid needs, safety requirements, and long-term power market dynamics. The Company will also assess next-generation battery chemistries and customised storage configurations designed to maximise value in Japan’s evolving energy landscape.
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