The shareholders of the 900MW Waltrop BESS project in Germany have approved key infrastructure works for the project, with full construction scheduled for the next few months.
Investor Luxcara, power firm BKW and utility grouping vehicle Trianel announced the progress on the 900MW/1,800MWh Waltrop battery energy storage system (BESS) in Waltrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, today (20 July).
Preparatory construction has been underway for ‘several months’, associated substation and key infrastructure works were approved last week while ‘key equipment packages’ have been ordered, they said. Full construction is expected in Autumn 2026, with commissioning scheduled for 2028.
In terms of technical configuration, the project is three separate 300MW units connected to individual transformers. Financially and operationally, it is split into three projects being financed, owned and operated by each of the three shareholders:
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- Luxcara: 520MW
- BKW: 300MW
- Trianel via its T-BESS 1 arm: 80MW
The companies said that the clarification by regulator BnetzA in May confirming the 4 August 2029 grid fee exemption for large-scale energy storage was a ‘key factor for the project’s economic viability’.
That clarification by BnetzA has been followed by numerous large-scale BESS projects progressing in Germany to final investment decision (FID), offtake and supply deals, or construction.
Last week we published a roundup of BESS projects and portfolios securing financing, offtakers or suppliers, totalling around 2GWh, and published a similar piece at the end of June, covering projects totalling around 2.5GWh combined.
Two weeks ago, BW ESS announced early construction work on a project which may eventually reach 1GW/5.7GWh. We then caught up with BW ESS’ executive director, Roberto Jimenez, who said the grid fee decision was key behind its project progressing, mirroring what Waltrop’s shareholders said. See the full interview about the project with Jimenez here (ESN Premium subscription required).
The period since the decision has also seen Eco Stor secure both finance and offtake for a c.700MWh project, both in June.
Flower secured offtake for two projects totalling 657MWh with utility Engie, in the same month, while Green Flexibility acquired a 2GWh development portfolio.
All-in-all, these projects represent over 15GWh of large-scale BESS capacity progressed since the grid fee announcement.
