— Aquila Clean Energy EMEA focuses on two-hour battery storage, optimised for wholesale market trading and grid balancing services.
— Batteries are a crucial component of the energy transition in the region and for integrating renewable energy into the power grid.
— Cobalt- and nickel-free battery cell technology offers sustainable solutions for grid stability and the expansion of renewable energy.

Hamburg, 26 August 2024 – Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, the European renewable energy development platform of Aquila Group, has begun construction on a groundbreaking battery storage project. In Strübbel, Schleswig-Holstein, a 50 MW / 100 MWh facility is being built, making it one of the largest and most advanced battery storage systems in Germany, set to play a significant role in the energy transition. The project is financed by investors from Aquila Capital Investmentgesellschaft.

This facility is the first of 14 planned battery storage projects to be implemented in Germany by Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, with a total capacity of over 900 MW. Strübbel, located in the onshore wind area between Hamburg and St. Peter-Ording, offers ideal conditions for generating and storing renewable energy.

Strübbel Project – Setting the Stage for Battery Storage Expansion in Germany

Andrew Wojtek, Chief Executive Officer of Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, says: “The start of construction of the battery storage project in Strübbel represents an important milestone for Aquila Clean Energy EMEA in Germany. Battery storage systems contribute significantly to system stability in an electricity mix with a high share of renewable energies and are therefore a crucial factor for the achievement of our objective of making affordable, clean electricity available to market participants.”

This facility will be one of Germany’s first two-hour storage systems, optimised for both grid balancing and wholesale market trading. The technology allows for storing electricity from renewable sources at full capacity of 50 MW for two hours and then discharging it back into the grid over the same period. This capability can supply 120,000 households with power for two hours, providing a reliable solution for grid stability and the integration of renewable energy into the grid infrastructure.

The project has been in development since 2021, undertaken by Aquila Clean Energy EMEA in collaboration with a partner company, covering all phases from greenfield development to operation.
Kilian Leykam, Director of Energy Storage Commercial at Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, comments: “We see Germany as a key market for battery storage in Europe. The demand for storage solutions is rapidly growing here to balance fluctuations in renewable energy generation. Our project in Strübbel will improve grid stability in this region with a high penetration of renewables and further contribute to the decarbonisation of the economy.”

Aquila Clean Energy Focuses on Sustainable Battery Storage Solutions

The Strübbel facility will use advanced lithium iron phosphate battery cells that are free of nickel and cobalt. These batteries are not only more sustainable but also safer and longer lasting. The technology will be provided by project partner Trina Storage, a leading global provider of vertically integrated energy storage solutions and business unit of Trinasolar. Trina Storage supplies the proprietary LFP cells as part of its Elementa battery energy storage system.

The planning, construction and installation of the necessary energy infrastructure will be realised in cooperation with the experienced construction service provider H&MV Engineering. The Irish company H&MV Engineering, with 1,100 employees and a strong branch in Frankfurt am Main, plans and constructs high-voltage grid connections for large-scale battery storage projects and hyperscale data centres up to 380 kV.

Aquila Clean Energy EMEA leverages its extensive experience from energy projects in countries such as Finland, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Belgium, and Portugal to drive further growth in the battery storage sector. Currently, facilities with a total capacity of over 4.5 GW are under development. The goal is to increase the total capacity of energy storage in Europe to ensure grid security and flexibility and to successfully support the energy transition. As the share of renewable energy in the grid grows, storage solutions are essential to balance fluctuations and ensure a stable and secure energy supply.

Germany’s Federal Network Agency expects a significant increase in renewable energy capacities over the next 15 years. This supports dynamic growth for battery storage, which will be a crucial component for the future of green energy. The agency’s current scenario framework projects growth for large battery storage systems from about 1 GW today to around 24 GW by 2037— a clear indication of the high potential and urgent need for battery storage projects.