Large-scale battery stores for the energy transition

VERBUND, Austria’s leading energy company and one of the largest generators of electricity from hydropower, is planning to install a total of 2,500 MWh of battery storage capacities by the end of 2030. One of the upcoming projects is being created in Weißenthurm-Kettig, in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. A large-scale battery storage facility with a capacity of 116 MWh will be installed here by 2026.

The expansion of wind and solar energy has to be intensively pursued until 2030. However, this is causing large fluctuations in the electricity grid. Battery storage balances out these fluctuations, regardless of whether too much or too little energy is in the system. Grid operators in Germany remunerate this balancing capacity from flexible providers, which thus make a considerable contribution to stability in the power grid.

Integrating, stabilising, marketing

Using grid services, battery storage facilities secure the distribution grid and help to integrate renewable energies. Feeding in power and work saves the cost of using the upstream grid or transformer levels. Excess energy is used on the balancing energy market or on the intraday market.

Seeing the big picture

"The successful integration of fluctuating forms of generation into strong and stable electricity grids is the key to a successful renewable future. The VERBUND battery storage facilities in Germany and Austria are making a valuable contribution to this. To date, we have around 110 MW in operation and a further 300 MW under contract, with a focus on Germany," emphasises Martin Wagner, managing director of VERBUND Energy4Business. "We are decisively driving the transformation of the energy system forwards. Our know-how and overall view make us a strong energy partner for city utilities, industry, grid and plant operators. We offer everything under one roof, from the delivery of green electricity and CO2 certificates to business solutions for photovoltaics, charging infrastructure for e-mobility, battery storage and flexibility marketing."

Safely designing the energy transition

The expansion of the portfolio and the further development from storage operator using hydropower to storage operator using battery storage is a logical step for VERBUND. With its in-depth expertise in storage management and the trade in flexibilities on the energy markets, VERBUND is expanding its value chain. VERBUND takes on the role of investor and operator of battery storage facilities. VERBUND not only uses marketing experience of battery flexibilities for its own battery storage facilities, but also offers this expertise to other companies. Others battery storage facilities are currently in implementation, others are at the planning stage.