Klostermansfeld Klostermansfeld

The site is located less than 200 meters from the Klostermansfeld 380kV substation, a central grid hub of the German electricity system. The site covers an area of around 14.8 hectares. This location allows for efficient grid connection with minimal disruption to the environment.

The project area benefits from natural shielding by existing trees on the north and east sides. Additional greening will be added to the site which will complement the existing greening such as the planting of a hedge on the western border of the area, as well as the creation of woods and native shrubs in the north along the Mansfeld mining railway, serves in particular as a privacy screen. 

Further compensatory measures on nearby areas serve to compensate for potential impairments of flora and fauna during construction, as well as to promote the biodiversity of the region. The measures have been coordinated with the Lower Nature Conservation Authority of the district Mansfeld-Südharz and described in detail as part of the building application.

The BESS system is operated via sophisticated remote monitoring systems and requires only one to two weekly maintenance appointments. This automated approach ensures efficient operation with minimal local traffic and minimal impact on the environment. 

The site will be accessed via the level crossing west of the Zirkelschacht. For the time of construction and delivery of the components, the access road via the B180 coming from the east will be realized in order to avoid too much impairment of the city and residents.  After commissioning of the plant, the impact of traffic on site is very low. The traffic-related measures have been coordinated in detail with the road traffic office and are part of the permit.

The facility will mainly consist of steel containers, that comprise the battery cells and inverters, and mid-voltage transformers. We will use LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery cells. All components are state-of-the-art BESS technology which has undergone extensive safety testing in the most extreme conditions by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

The Klostermansfeld BESS project has been developed in partnership with Zelos Energy Developments. Zelos took responsibility for land, grid connection and permitting to date. BW ESS has taken the lead on engineering design, procurement and construction, managing offtake and optimisation, project financing and any other relevant project work. At this stage of the project, BW ESS will continue to lead, while Zelos provides targeted support on local site matters until the project is further into construction at the end of 2026.

This site will enhance energy security and system resilience, ensuring there is sufficient capacity available to meet periods of peak electricity demand, contributing to enhancing grid stability across Germany.

The 1,000MW / up to 5,700MWh project is enough to supply around 3 million households with electricity for at least  4 hours. 

Battery storage helps balance variable electricity demand with intermittent supply to enable the addition of more renewable generation to our energy system. Without battery storage, the grid must deal with peaks and troughs in renewable energy in real time, which can be expensive and unstable. Battery storage reduces this variability and stabilises the grid, resulting in supporting lower emissions, lower costs and lower energy prices for consumers.

The project achieves an increase in biodiversity on site by planting new trees, native shrubs and creating compensation areas.

The construction and operation of the plant offer a wide range of contract and employment opportunities for local crafts, construction and service companies. As a result, regional companies in particular benefit from a long-term economic revival and at the same time strengthen the local community.