RWE has commissioned one of the largest battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Germany, with a total capacity of 220 megawatts (MW). The system, located at the company's Hamm and Neurath sites, has a storage capacity of 235 megawatt-hours (MWh) and can reach its full capacity in just seconds.
The BESS consists of 690 battery cabinets, each containing eight battery modules. Of the total capacity, 140 MW (151 MWh) is installed at the Hamm site, while 80 MW (84 MWh) is located at the Grevenbroich-Neurath site. In addition to the battery units, RWE has constructed the necessary grid infrastructure, including high-voltage transformers to connect the storage systems to the 110kV grid.
Nikolaus Valerius, CEO of RWE Generation SE, emphasized the significance of the development, stating: “With the storage plants in Neurath and Hamm, we are commissioning one of the largest battery systems in Germany. Our batteries perfectly complement the expansion of renewables, which requires a growing number of large-scale energy storage systems. Further battery storage systems are already in planning.”
The battery storage system is part of RWE's efforts to support the integration of renewable energy into the grid. The project also marks a key milestone for the city of Hamm and the surrounding region. Marc Herter, the Lord Mayor of Hamm, noted, “The commissioning of the large battery storage system at the Westfalen power plant site shows that Hamm continues to be a key energy location in the region.”
He further pointed to the area's future prospects, citing the region's high-performance grid infrastructure and Amprion's new electricity highway, which includes a large ‘green power socket' at the Uentrop site.
Klaus Krützen, the Lord Mayor of Grevenbroich, described the Neurath battery storage as “an important step” toward structural transformation in the region. “The RWE plant not only contributes towards stabilizing the electricity grid, but it also shows how innovative technologies are paving the way for an environmentally friendly and future-oriented energy supply,” he added.
The availability of suitable sites and proximity to grid connection points played a crucial role in the selection of the locations. RWE also highlighted the potential for further development, particularly in Hamm, where additional large-scale battery systems are planned on the site of its former Westfalen hard-coal power plant.
