German grid operators are facing a surge in connection requests for electricity storage systems, leading to significant processing delays, according to a recent survey conducted by “Der Spiegel” amongst 15 major network companies
Combined, these firms have received over 27,000 inquiries The aggregated capacity of these potential storage projects totals approximately 390 gigawatts – exceeding the combined output of all currently operational power plants in Germany These storage facilities are intended to absorb surplus energy generated from solar and wind power and then redistribute it to the grid during periods of low production, thereby bolstering supply stability
However, operators are struggling to keep pace with the volume of applications EWE reported receiving over 2,000 connection requests since the beginning of 2024, but has only commissioned a “low double-digit number” of storage systems within the same period Netze BW received 902 inquiries, with only 34 projects currently in an advanced stage of development
Eon, through its nine distribution network subsidiaries, points to misaligned incentives as a contributing factor The company explains that because large-scale storage is legally classified as generation facilities, grid operators are obliged to evaluate every connection request Eon estimates that over 90 percent of projects lack sufficient technical readiness or secure financing, highlighting the absence of minimum standards
Hamburger Energienetze notes that applicants often submit requests for the same project at multiple locations Netze BW further suggests that uncontrolled storage deployment could potentially strain grid stability if too many systems simultaneously charge or discharge in the same area The company urges the federal government to create incentives for grid-friendly storage solutions, ideally by integrating storage more closely with generation facilities such as solar parks
The German Association of New Energy Economy (BNE), representing many storage operators, dismisses these explanations as “excuses” BNE CEO Robert Busch states that even applications demonstrating strong technical viability and secured funding are often “stalled or rejected” He argues that grid and storage operators could also contractually agree on charging and discharging schedules, but that grid operators are not utilizing this option