EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Germany’s largest grid-operated battery storage project under § 11a EnWG has entered construction in Winterschneidbach, Ansbach. Developed through N-ERGIE Netz GmbH and MaxSolar GmbH, the 20 MW/100 MWh facility will store surplus renewable electricity and release it when grid capacity becomes available, supporting more efficient use of distribution network infrastructure.
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Construction has officially begun on Germany’s largest grid-operated battery energy storage system (BESS) under § 11a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG), with N-ERGIE Netz GmbH and MaxSolar GmbH launching the project in Winterschneidbach, in the Ansbach district of Middle Franconia, Bavaria. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 15 October 2026 in the presence of Bavarian Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy Hubert Aiwanger. The project represents an important development in integrating battery storage into Germany’s electricity distribution infrastructure.
The facility will be located immediately adjacent to the Winterschneidbach substation within the distribution network operated by N-ERGIE Netz GmbH. It will have a power capacity of 20 MW and an energy storage capacity of 100 MWh. The system is intended to improve the local integration of renewable electricity by temporarily storing surplus generation, including solar power, and feeding it into the grid when network capacity becomes available.
Unlike conventional market-oriented battery storage facilities, the Winterschneidbach system will operate according to the technical requirements of the electricity distribution network. This approach is designed to improve the utilisation of existing grid infrastructure while supporting the integration of additional renewable energy capacity. The project demonstrates how storage can complement conventional network expansion by providing flexibility where grid capacity is constrained.
N-ERGIE Netz GmbH awarded the project through a competitive tender process in which MaxSolar GmbH was selected ahead of more than 20 competitors. The development has been coordinated with Germany’s Federal Network Agency and is considered one of the first projects of its kind within the country's distribution network.
During the construction launch, Bavarian Economy Minister Hubert Aiwanger highlighted the importance of battery storage in supporting a secure, affordable and climate-neutral energy supply. He noted that storage systems can facilitate the integration of additional renewable energy installations while complementing necessary grid expansion.
MaxSolar CEO Christoph Strasser described the project as an example of how battery storage can contribute to relieving pressure on electricity networks through technically and economically viable solutions. N-ERGIE Netz Managing Director Kerstin Fröhlich emphasised the role of grid-friendly storage in improving existing network capacity utilisation and providing greater flexibility.
MaxSolar operates as an integrated renewable energy infrastructure developer and operator, covering renewable generation, energy storage, regional heating and mobility solutions. The company also provides long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and maintains a project pipeline of 6.1 GW across its operations in Germany also supported by six locations nationwide.