Křetínský's LEAG to build giant 50MW battery in Germany. Czech company to handle installation

German lignite power plant and mining operator LEAG, owned by Daniel Křetínský's EPH and Petr Kellner's PPF, will build one of Europe's largest batteries at its lignite power plant site in Lusatia. The project, called Big Battery Lausitz, is expected to be commissioned in summer 2020. The company said so in a press release.

The 50MW lithium-ion battery, with a capacity of 53 MWh and costing €25 million (CZK 644 million), will help stabilise the German grid and rank among the largest battery storage facilities in Europe. The federal state of Brandenburg, where the battery will be located, will also contribute €4 million to the project. Construction is expected to begin in early summer next year, with commissioning due a year later in the summer.

„BigBattery Lausitz is a key project for LEAG, which is so far unique in Europe in terms of its size and technical configuration. We are investing in innovative technologies of the future and expanding our existing facilities,“ said Hubertus Altmann, LEAG management board member responsible for the power plant division.

According to the company, the BigBattery Lausitz storage facility will feature innovative charging management and will also use a new power plant control system. The charging and supply of electricity will take account of conditions in both the power system and electricity markets.

„We will use the battery to stabilise the power grid on days with high fluctuations in renewable energy generation. In combination with our existing power plants, we can provide various system services and meet the growing requirements of the power system,“ Altmann added.

Czech involvement

České Budějovice-based company EGEM will take responsibility for construction. Using regional suppliers, it will ensure the construction of 13 battery containers across an area measuring 120×44 metres. The storage facility will be located at the Schwarze Pumpe lignite power plant site and connected to the grid at the 110 kV voltage level. Cooperation with the industrial park is also planned for the future.

„In order to strengthen the energy position of Schwarze Pumpe, we want to work with the storage facility on innovative applications that can be implemented in cooperation with the Schwarze Pumpe industrial park,“ said Altmann

Lead photo: Schwarze Pumpe lignite power plant. Source: SPBer, Wikimedia Commons