Record rush for network connections
Never before have so many inquiries been made in Germany about connecting stationary battery storage to the grid. The four major transmission system operators together report over 500 gigawatts of requested capacity for 2025. Tennet alone received over 230 gigawatts of requests in the middle of the year. These figures far exceed the highest electricity load ever measured in Germany and underline the enormous interest in electricity storage as the backbone of a flexible energy supply.
1. Speculation versus implementation
A significant proportion of grid connection inquiries turn out to be purely speculative: project developers secure connection rights without having concrete plans or secured financing. The result: Network operators have to examine enormous volumes of requests, even though many of these projects are not implemented. This so-called ‘hoarding of connection capacities’ means that storage projects that can actually be implemented are slowed down. The network operators are calling for a reform of the procedure in which the probability of implementation should play a greater role.
Lena Roth, energy analyst at GridWatch Institute: “The connection numbers reflect less the real expansion and more strategic positioning in the market.”
2. Storage as a key element of the energy transition
Stationary battery storage is considered a central technology for grid stabilization in an energy system with a high proportion of fluctuating generation. They buffer load peaks, store surpluses and enable a more efficient interaction between generation and consumption.
But without functioning registration processes and coordinated network planning, their benefits cannot be fully developed. The Federal Network Agency and industry associations are therefore calling for clear criteria and minimum technical standards in order to improve the practicality and effectiveness of the approval process.
3. Reform approaches on the table
In order not to slow down the real expansion of battery storage, concrete reforms are being discussed. These include a staggered approval process with project milestones, preliminary technical reviews before reserving capacity, and moderate fees to discourage speculative inquiries. A central storage register and digital transparency platforms could also help to systematically record, evaluate and make inquiries visible to everyone involved.
The aim of these reform proposals is to distribute the scarce network resources more efficiently and at the same time to increase planning security for serious project sponsors. The particular focus is on avoiding blocking effects caused by speculative inquiries.
If network capacities are only reserved where there is a realistic implementation scenario, both network operators and investors can plan more reliably. In addition, transparency about available capacities and the status of ongoing projects should be improved. That would be a step that would also strengthen confidence in the controllability of the expansion.
4. The perspectives: Make network access efficient and fair
Current developments make it clear: the need for storage is real – but access to the network must be controlled more specifically. Prioritizing according to readiness for implementation, location advantages or system relevance could prevent speculative projects from slowing down expansion.
Only if the processes surrounding planning, connection and implementation are designed efficiently can the storage boom become a mainstay of the energy transition in the long term. It is crucial to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, clearly define responsibilities and promote data-based decisions.