Fluence, TransnetBW To Build 250 MW Energy Storage System

Fluence Energy GmbH and TransnetBW GmbH have announced that they would deploy the world’s largest battery-based energy storage-as-transmission project. The 250 MW Netzbooster battery-based energy storage system will be located at Kupferzell, a major grid hub in Germany. Fluence said that the project will improve energy security and significantly support Germany’s energy transition pathway by increasing the efficiency of the existing grid infrastructure.

Fluence is a subsidiary of Fluence Energy, a leading global provider of energy storage products and services, and cloud-based software for renewables and storage. TransnetBW GmbH. TransnetBW is the transmission system operator in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

The Kupferzell project is planned for completion in 2025 and will reduce operating costs of Germany’s transmission system. As per Fluence, it will lower the number of required preventive measures in system operation, while also increasing the utilisation of the electricity grid, thus reducing the need for traditional network reinforcement and expansion.

The Netzbooster initiative was introduced in 2019 as an innovative concept under the 2030 German grid development plan. It will allow for the more efficient operation of existing transmission infrastructure and lower preventive re-dispatch measures. This will reduce the need for conventional network reinforcement and operating costs, thus decreasing network charges and ultimately energy costs to consumers.

Fluence maintains that the system will also ease bottlenecks stemming from transporting wind energy from Germany’s north to the country’s southern load centres. In the event of a failure in the transmission grid, the TransnetBW Netzbooster system will react within milliseconds to provide back-up capacity to maintain power system stability.

“Realising the Netzbooster project marks a turning point to accelerate the buildout of energy storage at the transmission network level in Germany and across Europe,” said Paul McCusker, SVP & President EMEA at Fluence. “Given the current energy crisis impacting Europe and the focus on accelerating renewable buildout under the RePowerEU plans, the deployment of this project is more urgently needed than ever.”

Dr. Werner Götz, CEO, TransnetBW, said, “To secure the industry leading energy storage supplier to deliver our Netzbooster project is highly pleasing, but also underlines our high standards and expectations.”

Markus Meyer, Managing Director at Fluence Energy GmbH, added, “Through our advanced product capabilities, extensive energy market experience, and expert knowledge of complex TSO-specific applications, Fluence is well positioned to serve as a key long-term partner to TSOs in Germany, Europe, and globally, in deploying energy storage as the backbone of modern, resilient, and decarbonised energy systems.”