SMA Solar and RheinEnergie have announced a strategic partnership to develop battery energy storage system (BESS) projects across Germany. The collaboration aims to integrate storage solutions with renewable energy sources like wind and solar, as well as develop standalone BESS projects.

The first project, a 24.5MW/64MWh BESS facility in Northeim, Lower Saxony, is set to begin construction in the coming months and is expected to be completed by early 2026. Under the partnership, SMA Solar's subsidiary Altenso will lead project development, construction, and maintenance, while RheinEnergie will handle operational management and energy trading.

With the German market rapidly expanding towards its 200GW+ solar target for 2030, energy storage is becoming increasingly crucial. However, the sector is also facing challenges, including grid connection backlogs and market saturation.

"We operate as a holistic solution provider specializing in the integration of complex energy systems, with over 1.5GW of successful BESS projects globally," said Burkhard Söhngen, Managing Director at Altenso. "By teaming up with RheinEnergie, we can make a key contribution to Germany's renewable energy future."

This move comes as SMA Solar seeks to diversify its business amid declining inverter sales in the European solar market. Other major players, including TotalEnergies, have also recently announced large-scale BESS projects in Germany.

Source: energy-storage.news