220 megawatts of power to stabilise the grid: RWE commissions Hamm and Neurath battery storage systems

Essen, 14 February 2025

  • Overall system with a storage capacity of 235 megawatt hours
  • Systems to contribute towards grid stability
  • RWE to build further battery storage systems in Hamm

 

RWE has commissioned one of the largest German battery storage systems at the Group’s Hamm and Neurath sites, with a total capacity of 220 megawatts (MW). It can reach its nominal capacity within seconds and provide power at that level for around one hour (235 megawatt hours, MWh). RWE is making the electricity from the battery storage systems available on various energy markets. The system contributes towards stabilising the electricity grid in particular through the balancing energy markets.

The storage system comprises 690 battery cabinets with eight battery modules each, with 140 MW (151 MWh) of capacity in Hamm (commissioned in December) and 80 MW (84MWh) in Grevenbroich-Neurath. In addition to the batteries, RWE also built the associated grid infrastructure. This includes high-voltage transformers as a connection point to the 110-kV grid.

Nikolaus Valerius, CEO RWE Generation SE: “With the storage plants in Neurath and Hamm, we are commissioning one of the largest battery systems in Germany. Our batteries perfectly complement the expansion of renewables which requires a growing number of large-scale energy storage systems. Further battery storage systems are already in planning. RWE offers the right solutions for all kinds of different challenges.”

The availability of suitable sites and proximity to grid connection points played a key role in the selection of the location. There is still significant potential for further development, especially in Hamm. RWE is planning to build further large-scale batteries on the site of its former Westfalen hard-coal power plant in Hamm-Uentrop.

Battery storage at RWE
As a driver of the energy transition, RWE develops, builds, and operates battery storage systems in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. The company currently operates battery storage systems with a total capacity of approximately 1.2 gigawatts. RWE is planning to expand its worldwide battery storage capacities significantly as an integral part of its “Growing Green strategy”.