Aquila Clean Energy EMEA Advances Battery Storage in Germany with 50 MW / 100 MWh Project, Optimized for Grid Balancing and Wholesale Market Trading
Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, the European renewable energy development arm of Aquila Group, has commenced construction on a pioneering battery storage project in Strübbel, Schleswig-Holstein. The 50 MW / 100 MWh facility is poised to become one of Germany’s largest and most advanced battery storage systems, playing a critical role in the country’s energy transition. This project is backed by investors from Aquila Capital Investmentgesellschaft.
The Strübbel facility is the first of 14 planned battery storage projects in Germany by Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, with a combined capacity exceeding 900 MW. Located in the onshore wind region between Hamburg and St. Peter-Ording, Strübbel provides an ideal setting for generating and storing renewable energy.
Strübbel Project – A Milestone in Germany’s Battery Storage Expansion
Andrew Wojtek, CEO of Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, stated, “The construction of the battery storage project in Strübbel marks a significant milestone for Aquila Clean Energy EMEA in Germany. Battery storage systems are essential for maintaining grid stability in a renewable-heavy energy mix, and they are a key factor in our goal of providing affordable, clean electricity to market participants.”
This facility is set to be one of Germany’s first two-hour storage systems, designed for grid balancing and wholesale market trading. It will store electricity from renewable sources at a full capacity of 50 MW for two hours, and discharge it back into the grid within the same period. This capability can power 120,000 households for two hours, offering a dependable solution for grid stability and renewable energy integration.
Development of the project began in 2021, with Aquila Clean Energy EMEA partnering with another company to oversee all phases, from greenfield development to operation. Kilian Leykam, Director of Energy Storage Commercial at Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, commented, “Germany is a key market for battery storage in Europe. The demand for storage solutions is growing rapidly to balance fluctuations in renewable energy generation. Our Strübbel project will enhance grid stability in a region with high renewable energy penetration, contributing to the decarbonization of the economy.”
Aquila Clean Energy’s Commitment to Sustainable Battery Storage
The Strübbel facility will employ advanced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells, which are free of nickel and cobalt, offering a more sustainable, safer, and longer-lasting solution. Trina Storage, a global leader in vertically integrated energy storage solutions, will provide the proprietary LFP cells as part of its Elementa battery energy storage system.
The planning, construction, and installation of the necessary energy infrastructure will be carried out in collaboration with H&MV Engineering, a seasoned construction service provider. With 1,100 employees and a strong presence in Frankfurt am Main, H&MV Engineering specializes in high-voltage grid connections for large-scale battery storage projects and hyperscale data centers up to 380 kV.
Aquila Clean Energy EMEA leverages its extensive experience from energy projects in countries including Finland, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Belgium, and Portugal to drive further growth in the battery storage sector. Currently, the company is developing facilities with a total capacity of over 4.5 GW. The aim is to expand energy storage capacity in Europe to ensure grid security and flexibility, supporting the energy transition. As the share of renewable energy in the grid increases, storage solutions will be essential for balancing fluctuations and ensuring a stable energy supply.
Germany’s Federal Network Agency anticipates a substantial increase in renewable energy capacity over the next 15 years, projecting a rise in large battery storage systems from approximately 1 GW today to around 24 GW by 2037. This underscores the significant potential and urgent need for battery storage projects in the country.
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