Brandenburg is planning Europe's largest battery storage system: The Gigabattery!

Brandenburg is planning Europe's largest battery storage system: The Gigabattery!

A lot is happening in Germany in the area of ​​renewable energies. The energy company Leag is planning to build an impressive battery storage facility in Jänschwalde, Brandenburg. This system is called a “gigabattery” and has the potential to become the first gigawatt storage facility in Lusatia. With an output of 1,000 megawatts, it should play a significant role in stabilizing the electricity supply from renewable energies, reports Black Forest messenger.

But what exactly does this mean for the future of energy supply? With a storage capacity of a whopping 4,000 megawatt hours, the Gigabattery can cover the electricity needs of around 1.6 million households over a period of four hours - that's a real big deal! This measure is particularly important to compensate for fluctuations in electricity production from renewable sources and to ensure stable operation.

Battery storage is trending

Battery storage is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. Loud Wikipedia There were already almost 1.8 million solar power systems with battery storage in 2024, while the number of systems was only 5,000 in 2013. This development shows that people are increasingly relying on sustainable energy and are campaigning for their own independence from electricity providers.

In the commercial sector, more and more larger battery storage systems are being installed, such as the planned 50 MW battery storage system in Duisburg-Walsum. These systems enable companies to work more economically and manage their own electricity needs more flexibly.

Without a doubt, different technologies are used. Lithium-ion batteries have established themselves as the most common type, thanks to their high efficiency of 90-95%. But other types such as redox flow batteries or lead batteries are also used, depending on the specific requirements that need to be met.

The market for batteries is booming

No matter whether private or business, the demand for battery storage is growing. However, studies show that the economic viability of battery storage depends on many factors, including acquisition and installation costs as well as the future development of electricity prices. These aspects have led to funding programs being launched in North Rhine-Westphalia and other federal states to support the purchase of battery storage systems.

In addition, there are always innovative solutions: Some green energy suppliers are working on using their customers' batteries as part of a centrally controlled swarm battery, which could further increase efficiency. Meanwhile, the funding framework shows that the German energy transition is making progress.