RWE, one of Germany's leading energy companies, has recently initiated the construction of a groundbreaking battery storage facility at its power plant sites in Neurath and Hamm, located in Rhine-Westphalia. This ambitious project aims to create one of the largest battery storage facilities in the country, boasting an impressive capacity of 220MW and a storage capacity of 235MWh. The undertaking will involve the installation of 690 lithium-ion battery blocks, requiring a substantial investment of approximately €140 million.
Roger Miesen, the Chief Executive of RWE Generation, highlighted the increasing necessity of flexible battery storage systems as the share of renewable energy sources in the electricity mix continues to grow. Miesen stated, “They balance out fluctuations in the electricity grid in seconds, which means they are the key to a reliable electricity supply. In terms of size and technology, the new large-scale battery storage facility in Neurath and Hamm is setting standards throughout Europe.”
Lars Kulik, a member of the board of RWE Power, emphasized the positive impact of the battery storage facility on the structural transformation of North Rhine-Westphalia. By leveraging the existing locations and grid connections, RWE is transforming the traditional power plant sites of Hamm and Neurath into vital partners for renewable energy sources.
The battery energy storage system (BESS) is scheduled to commence supplying balancing energy to stabilize the electricity grid in the second half of 2024. This entails the facility absorbing excess power from the grid and redistributing it when needed. Additionally, the battery storage facility will be actively engaged in the wholesale market. It will draw electricity into the storage system during periods of low prices and discharge power when prices are high, optimizing economic efficiency.
The planned battery storage facility is capable of operating at its maximum capacity of 220MW for over an hour, which is equivalent to charging approximately 4,000 electric vehicles. Furthermore, the facility will be virtually interconnected with RWE power stations across Germany, enabling control over whether the storage units operate independently or in conjunction with other power stations to provide balancing energy. This innovative approach optimizes the utilization of RWE's diverse portfolio of German power stations across various technologies.
The Neurath site will house batteries with a total capacity of 80MW (84MWh) on an area covering around 7,500 square meters. In contrast, the Hamm-Uentrop location will accommodate batteries with a total capacity of 140MW (151MWh) spread across an area of approximately 14,000 square meters.
