Statkraft Secures German Contract for Solar & Battery Storage

Statkraft, a Norwegian renewable energy provider, has secured a contract from the Federal Network Agency, the German regulatory authority, to construct a solar power plant coupled with battery storage in Zerbst, Germany. This opportunity emerged following the authority’s announcement of tenders in May 2023. The tenders targeted a combined total capacity of 400 MW.

Statkraft’s proposal involve developing a solar facility integrated with a battery system on the premises of a former gravel pit. The solar power plant is projected to reach a peak capacity of 47 MW. The project is expected to generate clean and renewable energy to power approximately 14,000 German households annually. To facilitate energy storage, the co-located battery storage solution will possess a capacity of 16 MW. It will enable two hours of power storage.

The tendering process for procuring the necessary components for the project has already commenced, with Statkraft aiming to commence operations during the summer of 2025. By securing the tender, the company ensures that the regulatory authority will purchase the electricity generated by the project at a market premium.

Claus Urbanke, Head of Wind, Solar, and Storage Development at Statkraft Germany, expressed the firm’s commitment to constructing co-located facilities incorporating solar energy and battery storage as part of their ambitious growth targets in Germany.

Statkraft capitalized on temporary regulations applicable solely to the year 2023 when submitting its bid, it says. These regulations allowed bids for solar systems exceeding 20MW in capacity.

Additionally, in May 2023, Statkraft, in partnership with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), emerged as the winner of an auction for a 500 MW offshore wind project in Ireland. Located in the North Irish Sea Array (NISA) off the eastern coast near Dublin, Louth, and Meath, this offshore wind farm is expected to provide electricity to approximately 500,000 homes and businesses in Ireland.