Executive summary

Vattenfall has made a final investment decision to build a battery storage facility at its Brunsbüttel site in Germany. The project will have an output of 254 MW and a storage capacity of about 1 GWh. It will be built on the site of the former Brunsbüttel nuclear power plant, which is currently being decommissioned. The facility and its grid connection are expected to be operational by the end of 2028. 

Vattenfall is a Swedish, state-owned energy company that operates across Northern Europe. The company will construct a large-scale battery storage facility at its Brunsbüttel site in the north of the country. The battery will have an output of 254 MW and a storage capacity of approximately 1 GWh. This makes it Vattenfall's largest battery project to date and one of the largest storage projects currently planned in Germany. 

The facility is being built on the site of the former Brunsbüttel nuclear power plant. That plant came online in 1976 and generated around 118 TWh of electricity over its operating life. It is currently being decommissioned. A new substation will connect the battery to the grid operated by 50Hertz. Under current plans, both are scheduled to be built and commissioned by the end of 2028. 

Once operational, the Brunsbüttel battery will almost double Vattenfall's existing battery capacity. The company currently operates 150 MW of battery storage and has another 120 MW under construction. Most of that existing capacity is co-located with wind and solar projects. Germany’s transmission system operators expect large-scale battery storage capacity in the country to exceed 80 GW by 2040, reflecting its growing role in integrating renewable electricity and keeping the grid stable. Once operational, the Brunsbüttel battery will almost double Vattenfall’s existing battery capacity. The company currently operates 150 MW in operation has and 120 MW under construction. Would be better 

'As generation from solar and wind power continues to grow, powerful storage solutions are essential for strengthening energy security and reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports.' Claus Wattendrup, Head of Solar & Batteries at Vattenfall, commented on the decision.

Batteries play a key role in balancing electricity demand and supply as generation from solar and wind continues to grow.