Power firm VPI has signed a 700MW pipeline BESS joint venture in Germany with developer Noveria Energy, while system integrator ADS-TEC has revealed a 1GW/2GWh project.
VPI is hoping to have its projects online by 2030 while ADS-TEC is targeting 2029. Most grid-scale energy storage activity in Germany is geared towards projects that can come online by August 2029, as that is when an exemption for grid fees for charging and discharging on the grid for storage will expire.
The country has quickly become among Europe’s busiest storage markets because of its size as Europe’s largest wholesale energy market.
VPI and Noveria
VPI, backed by energy and commodities firm Vitol, will develop and deploy more than 700MW of utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Germany through the partnership with Noveria Energy, a Germany-headquartered developer backed by investor Bluestar Energy Capital.
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The 700MW of capacity is spread across five BESS projects in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Brandenburg, ranging from 60MW to 300MW.
They are expected to be operational by the end of the decade, with the first project targeted for completion in 2027, VPI said. It has reached final investment decision (FID) one a project in Hessen, the first in the deployment.
Jorge Pikunic, CEO of VPI said: “Battery storage systems work hand in hand with renewables, which now make up more than half of Germany’s energy system, to deliver clean, reliable power.”
VPI was an early mover in the UK market, deploying a 50MW BESS project back in 2018 in partnership with developer Low Carbon, and has also been active in Ireland.
ADS-TEC developing 1GW/2GWh project
ADS-TEC, meanwhile, has unveiled longer-term plans for a single 1GW/2GWh BESS project in Germany.
The project has received approval from the local council while the local transmission system operator (TSO) has provided a ‘positive assessment’ for the extra-high voltage grid connection, ADS-TEC said.
ADS-TEC is primarily an electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure system integrator but also integrates BESS projects, and will oversee the planning, financing, implementation, operation and maintenance of the project.
Project development and financing are expected to be finalised by mid-2026, with commissioning scheduled for 2029, subject to receipt of regulatory approval, ADS-TEC said. The BESS will be supplemented by an on-site solar PV array totalling ‘double-digit megawatt peak (MWp)’ in capacity.
ADS-TEC was also an early mover in the German market, deploying a 2.5MW project in 2018, and more recently built a 20MW system for developer Polar Structure.
Yesterday we published an ESN Premium article in conversation with second life specialist BESS integrator Voltfang and investor Palladio Partners about their €250 million (US$293 million) partnership to deploy projects in Germany.
