Energy storage capacity in Germany could expand through ADS-TEC Energy 1GW battery storage project at Pulverdingen electrical substation in Baden-Württemberg. The permitting authority has confirmed that all application documents are complete.

Therefore, a building permit is expected soon. The facility is planned to provide 4GWh of storage capacity, with grid connection targeted for 2029.

The development is intended to support electricity grid stability as Germany increases its reliance on renewable energy. It will store electricity when supply is high and release it when demand increases or the grid requires additional power.

At its planned rating, the system is designed to discharge at up to 1GW for approximately four hours, subject to operating conditions.

ADS-TEC Energy 1GW Battery Storage Project in Germany Moves Towards Permitting

The proposed plant will be located at the Pulverdingen substation, near Markgröningen in Baden-Württemberg. The site is an important electricity transmission hub serving the wider Stuttgart region. TransnetBW operates the existing 380-kilovolt transmission infrastructure at the substation alongside distribution network operator Netze BW.

ADS-TEC Energy is developing the battery project with European industrial partners. The company has confirmed that the permitting application is complete and that it expects the building permit shortly. The permit remains a pending milestone in the latest announcement, rather than a completed approval.

The developer is also engaging potential investors and strategic partners. ADS-TEC Energy plans to sell a majority stake in the project company while retaining a long-term role in the development. Final financing and partnership arrangements remain important to the project’s delivery.

The company has not disclosed a final construction contract value. Its announcement states that projects of this scale typically require investment ranging from the high hundreds of millions of euros to around €1 billion. This is an indicative industry range, not a confirmed budget for the Pulverdingen plant.

1GW Output and 4GWh Storage Capacity

The project’s planned 1GW power output and 4GWh storage capacity place it among the large-scale battery storage developments being advanced in Europe. Power output describes how much electricity the facility can supply at a given moment, while storage capacity describes the total amount of energy it can hold.

At full output, a 4GWh system could theoretically deliver 1GW for four hours. Actual output and duration will depend on operating limits, usable battery capacity, conversion losses and grid requirements.

ADS-TEC Energy says the plant will use its proprietary battery management technology. The system’s electronics and software are intended to monitor and manage battery operation. The company has also indicated that European industrial suppliers are prepared to provide batteries, electrical switchgear, transformers and extra-high-voltage equipment. Specific suppliers and construction contractors have not been publicly identified in the announcement.

The wider construction programme is expected to involve battery installations, electrical conversion equipment, transformers, protection systems, control technology and high-voltage grid connections. Civil works will be needed to prepare the site and accommodate the equipment. These are typical requirements for a project of this type.The final engineering design and construction package have not yet been fully disclosed.

Grid Stability and Renewable Energy Integration

Battery storage can help address the difference between when electricity is generated and when consumers need it. Solar power production can peak during daylight hours, while wind generation varies with weather conditions. Electricity demand also changes throughout the day.

The Pulverdingen plant is designed to absorb electricity during periods of high supply and return it to the grid when required. This can help reduce renewable energy curtailment, manage short-term demand peaks and provide rapid responses to grid requirements. The facility could also participate in electricity trading and balancing services, depending on its final operating arrangements.

Its connection to the extra-high-voltage network is a significant feature of the development. Large storage facilities need sufficient grid capacity to import electricity for charging and export it when discharging. Protection, metering, switching and control systems must therefore be coordinated with the transmission operator’s requirements.

The battery project is separate from TransnetBW’s ongoing modernisation of the Pulverdingen substation. That wider programme includes renewing the existing 380kV switchgear, installing additional transformers and expanding electrical infrastructure. TransnetBW reports that the substation works began in 2023 and are being carried out while maintaining network operations.

The two developments are relevant to the same energy infrastructure hub, but their schedules should not be confused. Construction activity at the substation does not, by itself, confirm that construction of the separate battery power plant has started.

ADS-TEC 1GW Battery Storage Project in Germany: Construction Timeline and Next Steps

The battery plant’s permitting documents are complete, with the building permit expected shortly. Grid connection is targeted for 2029. The battery plant has yet to enter full construction.

The next major milestones include securing the building permit, finalizing project financing and ownership arrangements, confirming suppliers and construction contractors, and progressing the engineering and grid connection works.

If delivered as planned, the facility would add substantial flexibility to Germany’s electricity system alongside others such as the Vattenfall’s BESS project at the former Brunsbüttel nuclear power plant site in Schleswig-Holstein. Its scale also highlights the growing need to coordinate battery technology, transmission infrastructure, financing and project delivery as renewable generation increases.

ADS-TEC Energy 1GW Battery Storage Project Fact Sheet

Location: Pulverdingen substation, near Markgröningen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Project type: Grid-scale battery energy storage facility

Developer: ADS-TEC Energy

Planned power output: Approximately 1GW

Planned storage capacity: 4GWh

Expected discharge duration at full output: Approximately four hours

Grid connection target: 2029

Permitting status: Application documents complete. Building permit expected shortly

Estimated project cost: ADS-TEC Energy cited a typical range of high hundreds of millions to around €1 billion

Principal Companies and Project Team

ADS-TEC Energy : Project developer and battery management technology provider.

TransnetBW GmbH : Transmission system operator responsible for the wider Pulverdingen substation modernisation.

Netze BW : Distribution network operator with infrastructure at the Pulverdingen substation.

European industrial suppliers : Expected to supply batteries, switchgear, transformers and extra-high-voltage equipment.