German energy storage hall transformation

Why should Germany use energy storage systems?

Germany is under increasing pressure to rapidly decarbonize its electricity system, while ensuring a secure and affordable electricity supply. In this context, energy storage systems (ESSs) can play a crucial role in enabling a high share of variable renewable electricity generation.

What is the business model for a German energy storage system?

Therefore the business model for a German energy storage system is slightly different to business models in other markets. The key business models in Germany comprise: Improvement of reliability of electricity supply for industrial production.

Why has Germany lost its leadership status for energy storage?

While Germany continues to set the pace for the integration of PV and wind in Europe, it has lost its leadership status for energy storage to the UK and Ireland. One reason for this is that energy storage has not been high on policymakers’ agendas in Germany for many years.

How do storage systems work in Germany?

Most storage systems in Germany are currently used together with residential PV plants to increase self-consumption and reduce costs. Inexpensive storage systems can be built using Second-Life-Batteries (Bundesnetzagentur für Elektrizität, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen, 2020).

How is Germany transforming the energy system?

In addition to the complexity of transforming the German electricity system, climate-related targets and policies have been tightened substantially. The newest amendment of the Renewable Energy Sources law requires renewable energy sources to cover at least 80% of the annual electricity consumption in 2030.

What is the value of an accelerated storage rollout in Germany?

The value of an accelerated storage rollout in Germany is staggering. This has been confirmed by a study by the German energy consultancy Frontier Economics. Storage capacity will grow 40-fold to 57 GWh by 2030 with a cumulative power rating of 15 GW, leading to €12bn added economic value by 2050.