Laurent Schinckus: "When a manufacturing company generates its own renewable energy via a PV installation, we often find that the amount of electricity produced is not matched to consumption. The installation was oversized and the surplus energy is injected into the grid, without generating much income. In this case, a battery can act as a buffer to temporarily store the energy produced and reuse it when energy costs are at their highest."
“Another example is that of electric vehicles and charging stations: when an SME plans to invest in these, the demand for electricity can increase significantly and the company is faced with higher costs. In any case, the market's evolution towards more renewable energy means that all consumers will have to adapt if they want to enjoy the best conditions for the electricity they purchase.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"How can a company make its investment in a battery profitable?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Laurent Schinckus: “Technological developments are causing prices to fall rapidly. For a medium-sized project, a battery with a capacity of 2.5 MW and a storage capacity of 5 MWh, you can expect an investment of around €550,000 to €750,000, depending on additional costs such as the grid connection.”
“Thanks to a smart management system, the company can then absorb its renewable energy production peaks, reduce the volume of electricity it purchases, consume more of its own energy and, if necessary, purchase energy from a supplier when prices are low. All these factors together make the energy bill cheaper.”
A company that can temporarily halt its consumption or supply energy during consumption peaks can receive compensation for that flexibility.
"In addition, the imbalance market is becoming increasingly important due to the growth of Belgian solar and wind farms. Elia and grid operator Fluvius are looking for flexible reserves of storage and balancing capacity for the electricity grid. A company that can temporarily halt its consumption or supply energy to the grid during consumption peaks can then receive compensation for that flexibility."
“The same applies to companies that can store surpluses during peaks in renewable energy production. Prices are then low or even negative. They can then feed that energy back into the grid when prices are higher in order to make a profit.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What are the advantages of leasing a battery?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Laurent Schinckus: “This formula offers financing with a term tailored to the customer's needs. Repayments can be aligned with the income that the batteries will generate. The repayment of the investment amount is, of course, spread over the entire term of the contract.”
“Financial leasing also offers tax advantages: ING Lease pays the full VAT on the purchase and the VAT on the lease invoices is deductible. With a predetermined purchase option, the customer also has the option of taking over the battery at the end of the lease contract at a residual value.”
"}},{"componentType":"highlight","richBody":{"value":"Discover our leasing solutions tailored to your needs.
"},"title":"Interested in leasing?"},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"How are entrepreneurs guided in their decision-making regarding such an investment?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Laurent Schinckus: “We assist with the financial and legal structuring of the transaction, but also contribute our expertise in the form of advice. Critically assessing the business plan is an important part of our approach. Combining an investment in batteries with solar panels and, where possible, with charging stations for electric cars is a priority.”
“Our expertise offers companies tailor-made solutions that support their investments in batteries and other sustainable projects. We can even finance up to 100% of the investment for projects intended for own use.”
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Find out how ING supports businesses in the sustainable transition.
This article was previously published in Trends/Tendances.
"},"title":"Wondering what ING can do for you?"}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"57854d30-2559-4e9c-99f1-6e878180c212","legalZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that’s not. See how we’re progressing on ing.com/climate.
This article is for informative purposes only and the information set out herein may change with time. We therefore recommend that you always reference specific regulations and requirements with the competent authorities for the latest information. Additionally, we advise that you seek professional advice on a case-by-case basis before making any decisions. Please note that ING Belgium SA/NV cannot be held liable for any decision taken on the basis of the information provided.
"}}]},"localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"Sustainability is everyone's business","url":"/en/business/sustainable-business"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"body":"SMEs that want to operate sustainably often take their first steps by reducing their energy consumption and investing in renewable energy. These measures can usually pay for themselves quickly. With batteries on the rise, it is worth exploring the possibilities of leasing. Laurent Schinckus from ING Lease Belgium explains.","headerImage":{"extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/1a5ba4dcdcd220d3/original/Untitled-design-4.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/1dc8daa4-62fe-4c0e-bd51-2ad7c417ac30/Untitled-design-4","type":"image","width":1296},"title":"Battery leasing: a cost-effective option?"},"date":"2025-09-18","readingTime":0},"publishDate":"2025-09-18T10:56:26.908+02:00"}}