Three more VERBUND large-scale battery storage facilities enter into operation in Bavaria and Hesse

Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary in the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy: “Making Bavaria resilient - especially as a strong business location - also means recognising renewable forms of energy as the basis for economic success, actively promoting them and modernising our distribution grid. The aim is to make Bavaria home to the most modern and intelligent distribution grid in the world. That is why initiatives such as large-scale battery storage systems are more than welcome. They support our efforts towards decarbonisation, guarantee grid stability and help to safely integrate renewable energy sources into our electricity grids. These three locations also send an important message of cooperation across national borders. I would therefore like to express my special thanks to our Austrian friends and to all the players and organisations involved.”

No energy transition without storage

“With our expertise in the areas of storage, the energy market and flexibility marketing, we are initiating a turnaround and actively contributing to the success of the energy transition. The VERBUND battery storage sites make a valuable contribution to this. By the end of 2030, VERBUND will have installed a total of 1 GW of battery storage capacities,” said Martin Wagner, Managing Director of VERBUND Energy4Business GmbH. “The expansion of the portfolio from storage operator using hydropower to storage operator using battery storage is the next logical step.” With over 100 megawatts of large-scale battery storage systems in operation, twice as much in active marketing for third-party storage system operators and more than 300 megawatts in ongoing planning or implementation in Germany alone, VERBUND is positioning itself as a strong partner for German distribution grid operators.

The three battery storage facilities in the Hesse municipalities of Rechtenbach and Hessisch Lichtenau as well as in Schwabmünchen in Bavaria represent another milestone in the stabilisation of local distribution grids. The result of the co-operation between ABO Wind, Kyon Energy and VERBUND, they already complement existing plants such as the VERBUND battery storage chain in northern Bavaria and a number of VERBUND sites in Thuringia.

ABO Wind was responsible for the site development and construction of the projects and, together with Kyon Energy, developed the sites, which have now been sold to VERBUND, Austria’s leading energy company and one of the largest generators of electricity from hydropower in Europe. “From today’s perspective, large-scale battery storage facilities are the most economical option for bringing urgently needed flexibility to the grids in the short term. With their innovative and diverse operating options, they have the potential to actively advance the energy transition in Germany,” continues Martin Wagner.

The battery storage systems fulfil several functions: they stabilise the grid frequency by providing balancing energy, participate in intraday trading and feed energy into the grid during periods of high load. In this way, they help to smooth out fluctuations in electricity generation from renewables. The facilities comprise three to four units consisting of 20-foot containers housing lithium-ion batteries, inverters and transformers.

About VERBUND

VERBUND is a leading European energy company and one of the largest generators of electricity from hydropower. The company generates around 98 percent of its electricity from renewables, primarily hydropower. VERBUND trades in electricity in 12 countries and achieved an annual turnover of approximately 2,266 million euros and an EBITDA of around 4,490 million euros in 2023 with around 3,800 employees. With its subsidiaries and partners, VERBUND is active in the segments of electricity generation, transport and international trade and distribution. VERBUND has been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1988, with 51% of the share capital held by the Republic of Austria.
VERBUND is a key player for ensuring the success of the energy transition. The challenges this involves require the entire company to take a unified approach, which VERBUND is driving forward with Mission V. Mission V is a long-term, comprehensive transformation programme and represents the company’s will to counteract the climate crisis in its capacity as the power behind the transition. This programme is based on the VERBUND strategy 2030 with its three directions: strengthening the integrated core market, expanding renewables in Europe and becoming established as a European hydrogen player. With Mission V, VERBUND is pushing ahead with achieving the strategic goals for 2030 and ensuring their implementation.

About Kyon Energy

Kyon Energy is a German project development company that focuses on large-scale battery storage systems. With 121 MW of battery storage systems successfully developed and sold with partners, over 650 MW of approved and construction-ready projects and a project pipeline of over 7 GW, Kyon Energy is one of the market leaders in Germany. The company has a particular focus on the development and optimisation of multi-use strategies, combined with an in-depth know-how of project development and administration as well as the regulation of large battery storage systems. Through its battery storage systems, Kyon Energy is a driver of the energy transition and striving for a world powered by renewable, sustainable and independent energy.