RWE Breaks Ground on Largest Regional Battery Storage Facility in Lingen
In Lingen, Lower Saxony, a site that once produced acrylic fibers until 2021 is undergoing a remarkable transformation. RWE, one of Europe’s leading energy companies, has announced the construction of the largest battery storage facility in the region on the former premises of Dralon GmbH. Located just northeast of the Emsland gas-fired power plant, the facility is designed to provide a significant boost to the region’s energy infrastructure, supporting both grid stability and the integration of renewable energy sources.
The planned battery storage system will have a total capacity of 400 megawatts (MW) and will be able to deliver this maximum output continuously for at least two hours. This equates to a total storage capacity of at least 800 megawatt hours (MWh), a scale that places the Lingen facility among the most significant battery installations in Germany to date. With this investment, RWE aims to strengthen the region’s energy security while paving the way for a more flexible, renewable-based electricity grid.
The company has now formally committed to the project, with operations scheduled to begin in 2028. Preparatory work on the site is set to start on February 2, after all necessary construction permits were obtained. The project will cover an area of 8.5 hectares in the southern part of Lingen’s industrial zone, which will first undergo site preparation before construction of the battery park can begin.
Nikolaus Valerius, CEO of RWE Generation SE, emphasized the strategic importance of the new facility in the context of Germany’s energy transition. “With the expansion of renewable energies, the demand for firm capacity is growing,” Valerius said. “New gas-fired power plants and battery storage facilities complement each other perfectly in this regard. While gas-fired power plants step in when wind and solar power fail to supply energy for hours or days, battery facilities primarily bridge short-term gaps or periods of peak load. Our new battery storage facility in Lingen will absorb or feed in power within a few milliseconds, depending on demand. It will thus make an important contribution to grid stability and reliable electricity prices.”
The Lingen battery storage park is not just about storing energy; it is designed to deliver advanced grid services that are becoming increasingly essential as Germany continues to expand its renewable energy capacity. Among its key functions, the facility will provide balancing energy to stabilise the electricity grid. It will also be equipped to deliver services such as instantaneous reserve, commonly referred to as “inertia,” which helps maintain the frequency and reliability of the grid when sudden fluctuations in supply or demand occur.
The technical specifications of the facility highlight its scale and sophistication. The battery park will house more than 200 lithium-ion battery units, connected through an array of more than 100 inverters. The infrastructure will also include over 50 medium-voltage transformers, two high-voltage transformers, and two switch panels to ensure the smooth distribution and control of electricity. Connectivity to the wider electricity grid will be established through the nearby Hilgenberg substation, currently being built by Amprion, located less than 50 meters from the site. This proximity will facilitate efficient energy transfer between the storage system and the regional power network.
Construction of the battery facility represents a significant step forward in Germany’s ongoing efforts to decarbonize its energy system. As the country continues to phase out fossil fuel-based generation and expand renewable energy capacity, the role of large-scale energy storage becomes ever more critical. Batteries such as the one planned in Lingen help manage the inherent variability of wind and solar power, allowing excess energy to be stored during periods of high generation and released during periods of low generation or peak demand.
The Lingen facility also reflects a broader trend in the European energy sector, where utilities are increasingly investing in flexible storage solutions to complement traditional generation assets. By combining battery storage with gas-fired power plants, energy providers can maintain a reliable and resilient grid, even as the share of intermittent renewable energy grows. This hybrid approach allows for both short-term stabilization and long-duration energy supply, addressing multiple challenges simultaneously.
The development of the Lingen battery park will also bring economic and technological benefits to the region. Beyond job creation during construction, the facility will support the local supply chain for advanced energy storage components and technologies. Additionally, the project will serve as a model for integrating large-scale battery systems into existing industrial areas, demonstrating how legacy industrial sites can be repurposed to support the energy transition.
Once operational, the Lingen battery park will be capable of responding to changes in electricity demand within milliseconds, providing an unprecedented level of flexibility to the regional power grid. This rapid response capability is particularly valuable during periods of peak load or sudden drops in renewable generation, ensuring a stable supply of electricity for households, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
The project also underscores RWE’s commitment to innovation in the energy sector. By investing in state-of-the-art lithium-ion technology and advanced grid integration systems, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of the transition to a low-carbon energy system. The Lingen facility will complement RWE’s broader portfolio of renewable and conventional power plants, reinforcing the company’s ability to deliver reliable, sustainable energy to its customers.
Source Link: https://www.rwe.com/
