At the 'Future of Battery Storage' event in Förderstedt, the relevance of large-scale energy storage for Germany's future energy supply was discussed. The focus was on the Förderstedt large-scale battery storage system, a project of outstanding dimension with a capacity of 300 megawatts and a storage capacity of over 700 megawatt-hours. This marks the largest battery storage project realised and financed in Germany to date. Construction measures are well advanced; all battery containers and inverters have already been installed.
In the coming weeks, the technical connection of the first construction phase, comprising 100 MW, to the central plant control system, as well as its technical commissioning, will take place. The full commercial commissioning of the entire facility is scheduled for 2027. The calculated capacity of the battery storage system allows it to supply up to 500,000 households for approximately two hours or 250,000 households for around four hours with electricity. This scale highlights the regional and national significance of the project.
Strategic Importance for the Energy Transition
The 'Future Day' event underlined that the project in Förderstedt is part of a broader development, in which Saxony-Anhalt plays a key role in the energy transition. The continuous expansion of wind energy, powerful transmission networks, and new storage technologies demonstrates the gradual establishment of the future energy system in this region. Professor Dr. Armin Willingmann, Minister for Science, Energy, Climate Protection and Environment, as well as Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, emphasised that the expansion of battery storage creates the necessary flexibility for an electricity system increasingly based on renewable energies. He explained that projects like Förderstedt will significantly contribute to feeding electricity into the grid when needed and simultaneously absorbing surpluses, thereby reducing forced shutdowns and avoiding costs.
Riccardo Achilles, 1st General Representative of the Mayor of Salzstadt Staßfurt, highlighted the local importance of the project. He stated that the energy transition is taking place locally and that the Förderstedt district exemplifies a municipality's active participation in shaping the energy supply. Markus Graebig, Head of Customer Management at transmission system operator 50Hertz, underscored the essential role of large battery storage systems for the electricity system. Such storage systems would not only balance generation and consumption but also provide system services for voltage and frequency maintenance. He referred to 50Hertz's commitment to over 11 GW of reservations in the past year, but also pointed out that current connection requests far exceed the actual demand, necessitating prioritisation.
- —Robert Busch, President of the German Association for New Energy Economy (BNE), described battery storage as an independent infrastructure of the energy system that contributes to resilience.
- —Georg Gallmetzer, Managing Director of ECO STOR, contextualised the project within the development of the entire storage market and emphasised the importance of private investment and shared responsibility.
- —The project in Förderstedt is being developed entirely with private capital and demonstrates confidence in the crucial role of storage systems in the future energy system.
- —The symbolic 'plug connection' by Professor Dr. Willingmann and project partners marked the transition from the construction phase to technical integration and commissioning.
Subsequently, ECO STOR opened the site to the public. Citizens were able to tour the battery storage system during guided walks and discuss the construction progress, the technology used, and the function of battery storage systems in the future energy system with those responsible. Gallmetzer expressed his gratitude to the residents of Förderstedt and the surrounding area for their openness, patience, and understanding during the construction phase, which was considered a fundamental prerequisite for the project's success. The 'Future of Battery Storage' event made it clear that modern storage infrastructure goes far beyond individual construction projects, by connecting renewable energies, power grids, and energy markets into an integrated overall system.
