Energy transition in focus: large batteries as the key to the future?

Energy transition in focus: large batteries as the key to the future?

The challenges of the energy transition are the focus of the 13th Leuphana Energy Forum, which will take place on September 2, 2025. At this event, experts from business, science, administration and civil society will come together to discuss the progress and future paths of the energy transition. Loud Leuphana University The expected number of participants is set at up to 200 people.

A central topic of the forum will be the interim assessment of the energy transition in Lower Saxony. The aim is to evaluate the extent to which the ambitious climate goals can realistically be met. Current assessments indicate that these goals are unlikely to be achieved. There is also a certain mistrust in political agency regarding climate change.

Discussion about new technologies

The forum will also discuss key technologies for the future energy system. A particularly important aspect is the role of large battery storage. These storage systems are crucial to ensure the timing of generation and consumption and to support the stability of the electricity grid. Loud Climate protection Lower Saxony The demand for network connections for large battery storage systems has increased many times over in recent years. At the turn of the year, network operators had received inquiries with a total capacity of 226 GW.

On the other hand, there are challenges such as the allocation of grid connection capacities, which is often done on a first-come, first-served basis. This can lead to bottlenecks and requires coordinated procurement, especially at locations with existing problems.

Projects and developments in Germany

Current developments show the trend towards the construction of new large battery storage systems. One example is a large battery storage park in Alfeld, Lower Saxony, which covers an area of ​​almost 10,000 square meters. Loud BDEW The construction work is expected to be completed by 2026. The plan is to have an output of 137.5 megawatts and a storage capacity of 275 megawatt hours, enough to supply one million households for around eight hours.

These developments are related to a general increase in storage demand in Germany, which is expected to rise from 24 GW by 2030 to up to 400 GW in the following decades. Around 1.4 GW has currently been installed, but the challenges in the approval process and the provision of grid connections remain.

In summary, large battery storage represents a key technology for the energy transition. The correct integration and coordination of these technologies are crucial for achieving climate goals and the future energy supply in Germany.

The Energy Forum promises to offer a platform for critical reflection and innovative approaches to improving the energy system. The lectures by Anka Dobslaw, State Secretary in the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment, and Professor Claudia Kemfert, are considered particularly valuable in bringing new perspectives into the discussion.