Massive battery storage expansion plans in Germany pose challenges for grid operators
Handelsblatt
The surging interest of potential operators of large-scale battery storage units that seek connections to Germany鈥檚 transmission grid could聽put聽network operators in a difficult situation, . Large-scale battery projects with a combined capacity of 226 gigawatts (GW) are seeking to be connected to Germany鈥檚 transmission grid, fanning industry speculation that the country鈥檚 electricity system could be facing a 鈥渂attery tsunami.鈥� The grid storage boom is driven mainly by rapidly dropping battery prices and the possibility of using them for profiting from electricity price fluctuations.
Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of the country鈥檚 largest distribution grid operator E.ON, criticised the fact that applications are often submitted without regard to the specific grid situation. For storage to be able to contribute to grid stability, units would have to be placed at the right locations. However, applicants had no incentive to consider the grid compatibility of their projects, Birnbaum added. 鈥淭hat presents us with immense problems.鈥� He added that companies were using many projects as test balloons. 鈥淭he potential storage operators simply want to see what their chances are of being connected to the grid. That聽unnecessarily ties up resources for us,鈥� said Birnbaum.
Economist Veronika Grimm said current plans far exceeded demand and would lead to an overcapacity problem, which would eventually have to be paid 鈥渂y someone via levies or taxes.鈥� She instead called for a greater focus on new gas power plants to secure supply.
However, Jens Michael Wegmann, chief technology officer at storage company GESI said the gap between supply and demand would 鈥渞emain enormous for the foreseeable future,鈥� as permit procedures usually drag on for a long time, and often resulted in lower capacity or no permit at all.
