Elli commissions first large-scale battery storage in Germany
The stationary battery energy storage system (BESS) in Salzgitter consists of 13 containers. The stored energy will be traded on the European Power Exchange (EPEX). With the new large-scale storage facility, Volkswagen aims to evolve from a car manufacturer into an integrated energy player. The company says the goal is not only to create a new revenue stream but also to support the energy transition: renewable electricity must be available exactly when industry, businesses and consumers need it – and large-scale storage systems can provide the necessary temporal flexibility.In practice, BESS facilities such as Elli’s ‘PowerCentre’ absorb electricity when there is a surplus in the grid and feed it back when demand increases. This helps stabilise power grids, supports the integration of renewable energy and facilitates the expansion of charging infrastructure. For the Group, electric mobility and energy infrastructure are therefore strategically linked.“For us, energy storage and energy trading represent a new strategic business area with strong growth potential. As the Volkswagen Group, we are electrifying vehicles while taking a holistic view of the entire system. With PowerCo, we are strengthening our technological sovereignty and with Elli, we manage, store, and trade energy in a market-driven way. This is a key technological building block on our path to becoming a Global Automotive Tech Driver,” says Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume.The large-scale storage system was constructed using the Group’s own technology, as it incorporates the so-called unified cells produced by the battery subsidiary PowerCo since December in Salzgitter. These unified cells are, in turn, integrated into battery systems developed by PowerCo specifically for BESS applications.“Electric vehicles and sustainable electricity go hand in hand. The expansion of renewable energies requires powerful options for temporary storage – this is exactly where our PowerCenter comes in,” Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for Technology added. “We are making an important contribution to the expansion of renewable energies while leveraging our team’s concentrated battery and energy expertise. With Elli, PowerCo, and Volkswagen Group Components, we are creating a whole new industrial ecosystem. The Unified Cell is the global technology platform for both worlds: mobility and energy.”The combination of cell production, battery system expertise, stationary large-scale storage, and digital energy platforms in a cross-group collaborative project involving Elli, Volkswagen AG, and PowerCo is unique to date. It paves the way for Elli’s transition from a charging provider to an integrated technology and energy company. The Salzgitter project is intended to be just the beginning of Elli’s ‘Managed Battery Network,’ a platform that will intelligently connect large-scale storage systems, vehicle batteries, and other assets in the future. In other words, Elli also aims to play a major role in bidirectional charging, as this is precisely what is meant in this context regarding vehicle batteries.elli.eco
