German municipal utility Trianel, Swiss energy group BKW AG, and German asset manager Luxcara have partnered to develop a major battery storage project on the outskirts of Germany’s Ruhr area. The large-scale Waltrop Energy Storage Park is planned to reach a capacity of up to 1.5 GW / 3 GWh, making it one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

In its initial phase, the facility will comprise three battery systems, each rated at 300 MW / 600 MWh, totaling 900 MW. An additional 600 MW is already in planning, according to a statement released by Trianel.

The storage park will be constructed on a brownfield site in Waltrop, originally designated for a coal-fired power plant—highlighting Germany’s continued shift from conventional to clean energy infrastructure.

BKW AG announced it will invest over USD 230 million (EUR 200 million) in the project and will lead the development, construction, and operation of a 300 MW portion of the system. Meanwhile, Luxcara will oversee the development, construction, and operation of 520 MW of storage capacity as part of its long-term energy infrastructure portfolio.

Construction is expected to commence in 2026, with the first phase scheduled to go online in the first quarter of 2028. The project is currently pending antitrust approval.

This project is another step forward in Germany’s shift to cleaner energy—helping stabilize the grid and making room for more renewables through large-scale battery storage.

Sources: bkw.ch, luxcara.com