Ads-tec battery used for frequency regulation at hydro plant

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

One of the containers at the Dörverden hydro plant. Source: ads-tec.
A hydro power plant in Germany has installed a 3MW lithium-ion battery made by manufacturer ads-tec to perform frequency regulation.

The unsubsidised project will be used to balance the power from the 100-year old Dörverden hydro plant to maintain a grid frequency of as close to 50Hz as possible.

It is the first MW-scale battery in grid operator TenneT’s German network, according to Statkraft, the owner of the hydro plant, which says it has invested €4 million in the project.

“The rising percentage of renewable power generation demands flexible solutions. Lithium Ion batteries are, due to their technical properties, perfectly suited for the quick balance of fluctuating generation from wind and solar power,” said Dr. Pieter Schipper, senior vice president continental assets and market access, Statkraft.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The battery system has been spread across three containers at the site with about 14,000 cells used in total.

“We actively participate in the development of new technologies to find and enable new solutions for the changes in the power market,” said Urban Keussen, CEO, TenneT TSO GmbH. “Therefore we are happy to have the first multi-megawatt facility of its kind in our grid area with the battery storage constructed by Statkraft. Its prequalification for the control reserve market is a further step on the road to stronger integration of renewables in the system,” he added.

15 September 2026
Berlin, Germany
Launching September 2026 in Berlin, Energy Storage Summit Germany is a new standalone event dedicated to Germany’s energy storage market. Bringing together investors, developers, policymakers, TSOs, manufacturers and optimisation specialists, the Summit explores the regulatory shifts, revenue models, financing strategies and technology innovations shaping large-scale deployment. With Germany targeting 80% renewables by 2030, it offers a focused platform to connect with the decision-makers driving the Energiewende and the future of utility-scale storage.

Read Next

June 1, 2026
That’s according to Benedikt Deuchert, head of business development and regulatory affairs for German battery energy storage system (BESS) developer and EPC firm Kyon Energy.
May 29, 2026
The German network regulator’s decision to maintain grid fee exemptions for battery storage “ensures that billions in private investment remain directed” into the market, Energy-Storage.news has heard.
May 28, 2026
TagEnergy has commissioned a 240MW/480MWh project in France while Iberdrola has done the same with a 58MW/120MWh system in Spain, the two largest projects in each country. Meanwhile Engie, ACL Energy and Chint Solar Europe have moved to construction on projects in Belgium, Italy and Germany.
May 27, 2026
Germany’s energy system regulator has confirmed that BESS projects coming online by 4 August 2029 will be exempt from charging and discharging grid fees, opening up investment again after months of uncertainty.
May 26, 2026
While Germany is often described as the ‘hottest’ energy storage market in Europe, growing uncertainty on multiple policy and regulatory topics has led to a ‘cooling’ of investor interest.