RWE, one of Europe’s biggest energy companies unveiled the largest such project in Europe so far, a €100 million battery storage system in Lingen, Germany on Tuesday. Construction is set to begin on February 2nd. This state-of-the-art facility seeks to provide balancing energy, which will be key to helping stabilize our transitioning electricity grid. Along with their collaborative TANE, this project will increase the region’s electrical power supply. It would better ensure we can provide increasingly reliable energy as renewable sources continue to grow.
The new 30-MW Lingen battery storage system will use more than 200 lithium-ion battery units. This arrangement ensures a truly phenomenal storage potential of at least 800 megawatt-hours. The new facility will feature over 100 inverters and more than 50 medium-voltage transformers. It will house two high-voltage transformers and two switch gear panels. This battery storage system provides full output for at least two hours. It smartly responds to changes in energy usage patterns.
The terminal planning, facility design and construction will take place on an 8.5-hectare property. This site lies towards the south end of the industrial estate. RWE has already obtained all relevant permits, enabling the project to move forward on schedule. Once the battery system receives a change in charge, it quickly absorbs or releases power milliseconds. This far-reaching ability gives it the flexibility to respond quickly and efficiently to fluctuations in electricity demand.
RWE Generation CEO Nikolaus Valerius underlined the importance of the battery storage system for stability of the grid.
“Our new battery storage facility in Lingen will absorb or feed in power within a few milliseconds, depending on demand. It will thus make an important contribution to grid stability and reliable electricity prices.” – RWE Generation CEO Nikolaus Valerius
Valerius stressed how well the battery storage facility went together with opening new gas-fired power plants.
“With the expansion of renewable energies, the demand for firm capacity is growing. New gas-fired power plants and battery storage facilities complement each other perfectly in this regard: while gas-fired power plants step in when wind and solar power fail to supply energy for hours or days, battery facilities primarily bridge short-term gaps or periods of peak load.” – RWE Generation CEO Nikolaus Valerius
Yet the Lingen project propels a larger strategic shift in Germany’s energy landscape. Most importantly, it addresses the need for greater flexibility and reliability, which is key to our nation transitioning to a cleaner, more renewable energy grid.