Key Takeaways
Germany will build a massive 30 MWh zinc-bromide battery with a 25-year lifespan and a maximum capacity loss of just 3.6 percent.
It will use a Lego-like, stackable design that allows units to be arranged vertically or side by side to save space.
The USD 17.6 million project is scheduled for construction in 2027 and is expected to begin operations in 2028.
Germany will install a massive zinc-bromide battery that boasts a 25-year lifespan, can store electricity for up to 16 hours, and is expected to lose no more than 3.6 percent of its capacity over its entire operational lifetime.
Developed by Stadtwerke Gaggenau, a local utility in southwestern Germany, and Bruchsal-based energy infrastructure company CAPAC AG, the battery will rely on technology supplied by US-based Eos Energy Enterprises. It will reportedly deliver 7.5 megawatts (MW) of power output and provide 30 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage capacity.
According to the Gaggenau utility, the battery units will boast a Lego-like design, which would allow them to be stacked on top of one another or even placed side by side to save space. This could make the system ideal for sites with limited land.
The battery will run without active cooling and is expected to lose no more than 3.6 percent of its capacity over 25 years. Its construction is scheduled to begin in 2027. It should be operational by 2028.
No lithium needed
The facility will use Eos Indensity, a modular battery energy storage system based on water-based zinc-bromide chemistry. It was created by Eos Energy Enterprises, a US clean energy company that makeszinc-based long-duration energystorage systems (LDES) as an alternative to traditional lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
It uses anon-flammable electrolyte, which eliminates the risk of fire or explosion associated with the battery chemistry. As a result, the storage units can be placed closer together within a steel support structure. This would make better use of the available land and height.
More from Energy
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The battery is moreover free of lithium, cobalt, vanadium andrare earth elements. It can also operate at temperatures between -4 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to 50 degrees Celsius) without active cooling. This could reduce maintenance needs and operating costs.
The technology also supports storage durations of four to 16 hours and frequent charging and discharging cycles. “This project is an important building block for a secure electricity supply in the region,” Benjamin Henecka, CAPAC AG’s CEO, said. “Thanks to the stackable design, we can make particularly efficient use of the available space.”
A renewable energy boost
The facility will operate as a four-hour battery storage system. It will store excess electricity when wind and solar power generation is high and then release it when demand rises. “With this large-scalebattery storage system, we are implementing one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the history of Stadtwerke Gaggenau,” Thorsten Ruprecht, Stadtwerke Gaggenau’s managing director, said.
The project involves an investment of roughly USD 17.6 million (EUR 15.2 million) from Stadtwerke Gaggenau and JP Holding, the investment firm that owns CAPAC AG. The energy infrastructure company will be responsible for technical planning, procurement, system integration, construction, and commissioning.
Once operational, the site is expected to become one of Europe’s largest battery storage projects using zinc-bromide technology. According to the team, it will be built at the former liquefied petroleum gas facility run by Stadtwerke Gaggenau.
Ruprecht described the initiative as a crucial step toward a greener, more efficient energy future. “We are investing not only in the energy transition but also in the future of our region,” he concluded in apress release.
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Georgina JedikovskaBased in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine.
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Key Takeaways
Germany will build a massive 30 MWh zinc-bromide battery with a 25-year lifespan and a maximum capacity loss of just 3.6 percent.
It will use a Lego-like, stackable design that allows units to be arranged vertically or side by side to save space.
The USD 17.6 million project is scheduled for construction in 2027 and is expected to begin operations in 2028.
Germany will install a massive zinc-bromide battery that boasts a 25-year lifespan, can store electricity for up to 16 hours, and is expected to lose no more than 3.6 percent of its capacity over its entire operational lifetime.
Developed by Stadtwerke Gaggenau, a local utility in southwestern Germany, and Bruchsal-based energy infrastructure company CAPAC AG, the battery will rely on technology supplied by US-based Eos Energy Enterprises. It will reportedly deliver 7.5 megawatts (MW) of power output and provide 30 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage capacity.
According to the Gaggenau utility, the battery units will boast a Lego-like design, which would allow them to be stacked on top of one another or even placed side by side to save space. This could make the system ideal for sites with limited land.
The battery will run without active cooling and is expected to lose no more than 3.6 percent of its capacity over 25 years. Its construction is scheduled to begin in 2027. It should be operational by 2028.
No lithium needed
The facility will use Eos Indensity, a modular battery energy storage system based on water-based zinc-bromide chemistry. It was created by Eos Energy Enterprises, a US clean energy company that makeszinc-based long-duration energystorage systems (LDES) as an alternative to traditional lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
It uses anon-flammable electrolyte, which eliminates the risk of fire or explosion associated with the battery chemistry. As a result, the storage units can be placed closer together within a steel support structure. This would make better use of the available land and height.
More from Energy
See AllEnergyDam-less US hydropower systems could generate 22.6 MW electricity to power 5,000 homesEnergyResearchers turn liquid nuclear waste into stable solids using engineered mineralsEnergy20 MW in a week: 457-MW Texas solar project taps robotic assembly platformEnergySpaceX proposes 750 MW natural gas plant alongside Texas supercomputing centerEnergyNew hydrogen tech could put fast-starting turbines at center of grid decarbonizationCredit:Capac AG / Stadtwerke Gaggenau
The battery is moreover free of lithium, cobalt, vanadium andrare earth elements. It can also operate at temperatures between -4 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to 50 degrees Celsius) without active cooling. This could reduce maintenance needs and operating costs.
The technology also supports storage durations of four to 16 hours and frequent charging and discharging cycles. “This project is an important building block for a secure electricity supply in the region,” Benjamin Henecka, CAPAC AG’s CEO, said. “Thanks to the stackable design, we can make particularly efficient use of the available space.”
A renewable energy boost
The facility will operate as a four-hour battery storage system. It will store excess electricity when wind and solar power generation is high and then release it when demand rises. “With this large-scalebattery storage system, we are implementing one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the history of Stadtwerke Gaggenau,” Thorsten Ruprecht, Stadtwerke Gaggenau’s managing director, said.
The project involves an investment of roughly USD 17.6 million (EUR 15.2 million) from Stadtwerke Gaggenau and JP Holding, the investment firm that owns CAPAC AG. The energy infrastructure company will be responsible for technical planning, procurement, system integration, construction, and commissioning.
Once operational, the site is expected to become one of Europe’s largest battery storage projects using zinc-bromide technology. According to the team, it will be built at the former liquefied petroleum gas facility run by Stadtwerke Gaggenau.
Ruprecht described the initiative as a crucial step toward a greener, more efficient energy future. “We are investing not only in the energy transition but also in the future of our region,” he concluded in apress release.
Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.
By subscribing, you agree to our
Terms of Useand
PoliciesYou may unsubscribe at any time.
0
COMMENT
Subscribe to
Today!
Access to exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.
Explore Now!By
Georgina JedikovskaBased in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine.
- 1Mars robot swarms to use star sensors, radio beacons for autonomous navigation
- 2930 mph unmanned supersonic aircraft gets advanced systems for military missions
- 3Microsoft 365 outage affects 130,000 users as engineers race to restore services
- 4Google launches Gemini 4 Hydrogen, scores 57% on coding benchmark, triples Flash
- 5New hydrogen tech could put fast-starting turbines at center of grid decarbonization
