Best Practices for the Special Exhibit „Renewables 24/7″

How Germany’s Largest PEM Electrolyzer Is Decarbonizing the Chemical Industry

BASF SE is setting a historic milestone for green chemistry at its main plant in Ludwigshafen. With the commissioning of Germany’s largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, the company has launched the large-scale production of CO₂-free hydrogen. The visionary “Hy4Chem” project integrates the new megawatt-scale plant directly into the existing integrated production network and lays the technological foundation for sustainable products with a drastically reduced CO₂ footprint.

Challenge

Hydrogen is one of the most important chemical feedstocks at BASF’s main plant and is required, among other things, for the production of ammonia, methanol, and vitamins. To date, this raw material has been produced in Ludwigshafen primarily via natural gas-based, CO₂-intensive steam reforming. The chemical industry faces the enormous challenge of breaking free from these fossil fuel dependencies and completing the transition to greenhouse gas-neutral production chains without jeopardizing the site’s international competitiveness. 

Solution

• Hydrogen production on a megawatt scale: Construction and commissioning of a state-of-the-art PEM electrolyzer with a connected load of 54 megawatts (MW). The plant has an annual capacity of up to 8,000 tons of green hydrogen and produces up to one ton of the climate-neutral feedstock per hour using electricity from renewable sources.
• Globally unique grid integration: Seamless integration of the plant – consisting of a total of 72 stacks (electrolysis modules) – into the plant’s complex production and infrastructure. The hydrogen produced is fed directly into the site’s existing H₂ grid and distributed flexibly from there as a CO₂-free raw material to the various production facilities.
• Regional sector coupling and market ramp-up: In addition to its primary use as an industrial feedstock, there are plans to specifically supply the green hydrogen for zero-emission mobility in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. The project thus serves as an active catalyst for the development of a sustainable, regional hydrogen economy.

Innovation factor

• Unique Chemical System Integration: The direct integration of a PEM electrolysis plant of this scale into a highly developed chemical production environment is groundbreaking. As a technological pioneer, it demonstrates how the symbiosis of on-site low-CO₂ production and large-scale industrial consumption works in practice.
• Technology transition at the root of the value chain: The project breaks with traditional fossil-fuel-based steam reforming. By replacing the fossil fuel natural gas with renewable hydrogen, BASF enables its customers to purchase chemical products with a significantly smaller carbon footprint. 

Impact & Lessons learned

The “Hy4Chem” project provides strong impetus for the industrial ramp-up of hydrogen in Europe and delivers practical proof of the decarbonization of energy-intensive industry. The plant has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the Ludwigshafen main site by up to 72,000 tons per year. Financed by a pioneering investment model – funded with up to 124.3 million euros by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, supplemented by an investment of approximately 25 million euros from BASF – the project demonstrates that the ambitious path to climate neutrality and the preservation of European industrial jobs can go hand in hand.

Intelligent Forecasting Models Ensure Grid Stability Through Flexible Storage

With the large-scale battery storage facility in Bollingstedt, ECO STOR is setting new standards for the integration of renewable energy into the power grid. The combination of high storage capacity and an innovative, forecast-based control approach enables grid-friendly, flexible, and cost-effective utilization of wind and solar power.

• © Eco Stor
• © Eco Stor

Challenge

The share of renewable energy in the German power grid is now over 60%. To increase this further, flexibility is needed—and in particular battery storage – to balance the high volatility of solar and wind energy. However, integrating high-capacity storage poses significant challenges for grid operators. Large load changes, in particular, push the grids to their capacity limits. Furthermore, due to a lack of grid load forecast data, available grid capacity cannot be identified and released for storage operations.

Solution

• Large-scale battery storage as a source of flexibility: A large-scale battery storage facility with 100 MW of power and 238 MWh of capacity was implemented at the Bollingstedt site. The facility consists of 64 containers with lithium-ion batteries as well as 32 containers for inverters and transformers and is located in the immediate proximity of a substation.
• Integration into the existing energy system: Excess production from wind and photovoltaics is stored and fed back into the SH-Netz power grid during morning and evening peak demand periods.
• Dynamic forecasting model for grid-supporting operation: A dedicated forecasting model was developed for the operation of the storage facility to predict the weather-dependent wind and PV output in the region and, consequently, the load on the grid. This enables the storage facility to proactively avoid grid overloads during critical phases.
• Consideration of grid stability and economic efficiency: The dynamic limitation parameters enable better and more economical storage operation that would be possible with rigid specifications. In this way, the storage facility can be sufficiently refinanced without burdening electricity customers or the state budget.

Innovation factor

When it went into operation in June 2025, the battery storage facility in Bollingstedt was the largest in Germany. The storage facility sets its own dynamic limits and proactively avoids grid bottlenecks.

Impact & Lessons learned

• Cost-effective storage operation without additional burden: Initial operational experience shows that the developed forecasting method is well-suited to optimally resolve the trade-off between storage profitability and grid load. It allows for sufficient refinancing of the storage investment without burdening electricity customers or the state budget.
• Data-driven optimization during ongoing operation: Since commissioning, the operating parameters for the storage facility have been further optimized in close coordination with the grid operator SH-Netz based on practical experience. The goal is to enable the necessary system services—and in particular the buffering of renewable energy—without overloading the local grids.
• Transferable model for grids with a high share of renewables: The project can serve as a blueprint for the deployment of large-scale battery storage in congested power grids.

Flexibility for the distribution grid

Challenge

High local PV feed-in can lead to bottlenecks in the distribution grid, while additional flexibility is needed during periods of high demand. Traditional grid expansion is not always the fastest or most cost-effective solution for this. The project addresses the question of how battery storage can be deployed in a regulatory-compliant, grid-friendly, and economically viable manner to better integrate renewable energy and reduce curtailment.

Solution

• Bayernwerk Netz procures the grid-supporting storage capacity and defines the location, operating corridors, and grid-side schedules.
• MaxSolar implements the project on a fixed-price, turnkey basis and handles operation, commissioning, and the integration of telecontrol and market operator interfaces.
• The 5-megawatt/25-megawatt-hour battery storage system, based on the Sungrow PowerTitan 2.0, charges during periods of high PV feed-in and discharges during periods of high load.

Innovation factor

First-of-its-kind implementation: Germany’s first grid-supporting storage system procured by a distribution system operator in accordance with Section 11a of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG).

Grid operation integration: Operation is controlled via SCADA and EMS interfaces along operational corridors defined by the distribution system operator.

Technological leap: The PowerTitan 2.0 combines high energy density, an integrated PCS, improved efficiency, liquid cooling, separate battery cabinets, and intelligent O&M functions.

Impact & Lessons learned

The project demonstrates how battery storage can be used as a buffer between renewable generation and consumption. By absorbing local PV surpluses and discharging during peak loads, flexibility is provided directly on-site. This reduces bottlenecks, minimizes redispatch interventions, and allows for better integration of additional renewable generation. At the same time, the project provides a transferable blueprint for how grid-supporting storage can be procured, technically integrated, and economically evaluated against alternative measures within the distribution grid.

How a Smart Industrial Self-Supply System Cuts Peak Loads and Reduces Energy Costs

With the successful completion of the energy project in Hallenberg, WEMA Erneuerbare Energien GmbH and trawa demonstrate how energy-intensive industrial companies can position themselves for the future. Through the intelligent interaction of a 1.8 MWp ground-mounted PV system and a 1 MWh container storage unit, Siepe GmbH & Co. KG secures a highly efficient self-supply system and effectively protects itself against unpredictable market risks.

• © WEMA Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, trawa – Future Energy Services GmbH, Siepe GmbH & Co. KG
• © WEMA Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, trawa – Future Energy Services GmbH, Siepe GmbH & Co. KG
• © WEMA Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, trawa – Future Energy Services GmbH, Siepe GmbH & Co. KG

Challenge

With an annual consumption of over 800,000 kWh, the industrial site of Siepe GmbH & Co. KG has enormous energy requirements. In light of persistently high energy costs and the financial burden of expensive peak loads at the grid connection, the company sought a sustainable solution. Changing market conditions presented an additional hurdle: With temporarily negative electricity prices, unused surplus generation from the solar plant risked being wasted without any compensation.

Solution

• Revenue-optimised ground-mounted PV system: Planning and implementation of a large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaic system with a capacity of 1.8 MWp. The system was deliberately constructed with an east-west orientation to distribute electricity generation evenly throughout the day and optimally align it with the industrial consumption profile.
• High-performance container storage for system buffering: Retrofitting and integration of a state-of-the-art container storage system with a capacity of 1 MW and a storage capacity of 1 MWh. The battery system functions as a dynamic buffer that specifically stores surplus energy and reliably absorbs load peaks during production operations (peak shaving).
• Smart self-consumption optimization: Technical fine-tuning of all components to the plant’s actual load profile. The entire system was successfully commissioned in January 2026 and controls energy flows fully automatically, thereby minimizing expensive grid purchases and avoiding uncompensated feed-in during periods of negative market prices.

Innovation factor

• Overbuilt Grid Connection Point: A technical highlight of the project is the intelligent overbuilding of the existing grid connection point. This enables maximum utilization of the installed generation and storage capacity without requiring a costly and time-consuming expansion of the grid infrastructure.
• 800V AC storage technology in the industrial sector: The first-ever transfer of highly efficient 800V AC storage technology from the traditional large-scale power plant sector (utility level) directly into a decentralized, medium-sized industrial project. This ensures minimal conversion losses and maximum system efficiency.

Impact & Lessons learned

This best-practice project impressively demonstrates how the industrial energy transition can be achieved economically and self-sufficiently in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector. The precise coordination of generation and storage has led to a measurable, groundbreaking success: Since commissioning in early 2026, the site has achieved energy self-sufficiency of over 75% (as of May 2026). The project provides a clear blueprint for manufacturing companies on how tailored sector coupling can radically reduce dependence on the power grid and secure their own competitiveness in the long term.

Standardization of 100MW+ Solar Projects

As part of a strategic partnership, RWE uses the PVcase Ground Mount software to plan its global utility-scale solar pipeline. By digitizing and automating layout processes, planning risks for large-scale projects of 100 MW or more are minimized, and the accuracy of revenue and cost estimates in early project phases is increased.

Challenge

For solar projects with a capacity exceeding 100 MW, conventional design tools reach their limits due to the large volumes of data and the complexity involved. Typical problems in the early planning phase include:

• Time-consuming and error-prone manual creation and replication of layouts.
• Inaccuracies in quantity takeoff and bill of materials (BOM) creation, which compromises the reliability of financing models.

Solution

• Central Design Engine: PVcase Ground Mount is used as the primary software for the interface between site evaluation and final engineering.
• Automated variant analysis: Functions for shading analysis and GCR (Ground Coverage Ratio) iterations enable the systematic evaluation of numerous design options.
• Terrain and collision analysis: Calculations prior to the construction phase provide precise data on necessary earthwork (Earthwork Estimation).
• Dynamic Bill of Materials: Material lists (BOM) are generated directly from the software and automatically updated when component configurations change (e.g., module or tracker changes).

Innovation factor

The system processes data volumes from 100MW+ class projects within a cohesive software environment. It enables the immediate replacement of component manufacturers (trackers/modules) while simultaneously and automatically regenerating the overall layout.

Impact & Lessons learned

RWE fully maps its ground-mounted solar pipeline using the software. Measurable results include:

• Reduction of pure layout creation time from several days to just a few hours.
• Increased cost certainty in civil engineering through software-supported collision analysis prior to construction.
• Improved data foundation for financial decisions through directly exportable material lists.

Siemens Completes Groundbreaking Real-World Lab for Island Flexibility in the Azores

On the Azores island of Terceira, a smart energy system is transforming the power supply. Through the integration of software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio and a 15-MW battery storage system, the share of renewable energy is being significantly increased, while the flexibility and resilience of the isolated grid are being optimized.

Challenge

In isolated, autonomous island systems, the rising share of highly fluctuating renewable energies such as wind and solar leads to massive balancing problems between generation and consumption. Traditionally, fossil-fuel diesel generators serve as spinning reserves to maintain grid frequency and voltage quality. To reduce dependence on fossil fuels and cut CO₂ emissions, these stabilizing system services must be reliably replaced by digital control and storage.

Solution

• Intelligent microgrid management via software: Deployment of the Microgrid Management System from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio. The software enables real-time monitoring, control, and precise weather-based production and consumption forecasts for optimal operational planning.
• High-performance, grid-forming storage infrastructure: Integration of a 15-megawatt Fluence Gridstack battery storage system. The system provides grid-forming capabilities, delivers reactive power and short-circuit capacity, and reliably absorbs excess renewable energy.
• Scientific system integration and validation: The consulting team from Siemens Power Technologies International (PTI) has supported EDA since 2018 with techno-economic sizing studies and dynamic integration analyses to ensure the reliability and safety of the entire electrical system under various scenarios.

Innovation factor

• Blueprint for European island microgrids: One of the largest stand-alone battery storage projects on a European island, serving as a technological model for isolated grids worldwide.
• From fossil fuel backup to software-driven resilience: The combination of microgrid software and BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) replaces the traditional fossil fuel spinning reserve and increases the share of renewable energy in the mix to up to 50 percent.
• Holistic digital transformation of energy utilities: The project demonstrates the measurable value of combining operational hardware with predictive software (Siemens Xcelerator) as a direct lever for the energy transition at energy utilities.

Impact & Lessons learned

The project breaks the dependence of self-sufficient grids on fossil fuels and proves that software and storage expertise can fully compensate for the volatility of wind and solar power. As a result, Terceira saves over 3,600 tons of CO₂ annually.

The real-world laboratory demonstrates that increasing the share of renewable energy to up to 50 percent in isolated systems is technically safe, economically viable, and feasible in compliance with grid operation standards.

Subsidy-free solar power for industry and the region

• © Solarkraftwerk Halenbeck-Rohlsdorf I/II GmbH
• © Solarkraftwerk Halenbeck-Rohlsdorf I/II GmbH
• © Solarkraftwerk Halenbeck-Rohlsdorf I/II GmbH

Challenge

Large-scale PV plants without subsidies must be economically viable in the long term, integrated into the grid, and usable in a predictable manner for industrial customers. At the same time, a project of this magnitude requires local acceptance, tangible benefits for the community, and a robust approach to nature conservation.

Solution

• Construction of a solar park with a capacity of approximately 230 megawatts peak (MWp) featuring a long-term PPA structure: 75 percent of generation for Shell, 12.5 percent for the Sparkassen Group, and 12.5 percent for the market and community electricity.
• Preparation of the plant for large-scale DC-side storage: initially 2 x 7.14 megawatt-hours (MWh) for nighttime electricity and the community electricity tariff, with a prospective capacity of approx. 480 MWh of storage for predictable XXL solar power.
• Implementation as a biodiversity solar park with wide row spacing, a maintenance plan, and a surrounding hedgerow instead of a solid fence.

Innovation factor

• Subsidy-free solar power generation is coupled with industrial-scale XXL off-take and renewable hydrogen production.
• The project combines PPA financing, community-supported electricity, citizen participation, and storage options in a scalable model.
• The biodiversity design, featuring a ten-kilometer-long hedge and internal offsetting, creates an ecological impact directly at the site.

Impact & Lessons learned

The solar park demonstrates how large PV projects can become bankable, regionally anchored, and industrially viable without traditional subsidies. The municipality benefits from annual fees, business tax prospects, community-owned electricity, and a solar roof initiative; citizens were able to participate through community savings and DKB crowdfunding. At the same time, a model is emerging for predictable solar power through storage and for biodiversity PV on a new scale.

Grid Stabilization Through Grid-Forming Battery Storage

System-critical pilot projects: A 55-megawatt-hour battery storage park in Föhren will serve as a blueprint for the application of grid-forming technology using grid-forming inverters. At the storage park and in the multi-megawatt laboratory, the fundamentals for the widespread deployment of this technology to ensure system stability in the distribution grid are being researched and tested.

• © Westnetz, Schoenergie, Fraunhofer ISE, Universität Stuttgart
• © Westnetz, Schoenergie, Fraunhofer ISE, Universität Stuttgart

Challenge

In the future, frequency and voltage in the power grid must be stabilized by renewable energy sources and battery storage systems rather than by the flywheels of conventional power plants. Grid-forming inverters are used for this purpose. For the standardized deployment of this technology, field tests in the distribution grid are crucial for widespread adoption.

Solution

• Laboratory testing: Simulation-based preliminary studies to identify potential risks and grid interactions, technical testing of individual grid-forming inverters
• Field test: First successful commissioning of a 55-megawatt-hour battery storage park in grid-forming operation with grid-forming inverters in the distribution grid
• Generalization: Derivation of conclusions for high-penetration scenarios of grid-forming systems, development of a best practice guide for nationwide rollout

Innovation factor

• Validation under laboratory and field conditions: A multi-megawatt grid-forming system is being tested in Fraunhofer ISE’s accredited multi-megawatt laboratory and in the medium-voltage grid over a two-year period.
• Greater security for grid connection: Tests under real-world conditions reveal stability and interoperability effects that often remain hidden in simulations.
• Practical tools for grid operators: The project develops simple assessment methods and recommendations for action so that distribution system operators can connect grid-forming systems more efficiently in the future and better plan for new challenges.

Impact & Lessons learned

The project establishes important foundations at the research and practical levels for the widespread use of battery storage systems with grid-forming inverters for grid stabilization. In doing so, it provides important insights for grid operators and applications in the distribution grid and demonstrates interoperability with other systems (PV parks, loads, etc.).

Cross-Sector Alliance for Maximum Grid Benefits on an Industrial Scale

System-critical pilot projects: A 55-megawatt-hour battery storage park in Föhren will serve as a blueprint for the application of grid-forming technology using grid-forming inverters. At the storage park and in the multi-megawatt laboratory, the fundamentals for the widespread deployment of this technology to ensure system stability in the distribution grid are being researched and tested.

• © Statkraft, SUNOTEC
• © Statkraft, SUNOTEC

Challenge

The integration of large-scale PV plants into the power grid often fails due to the volatility of generation and a lack of flexibility. In large-scale projects, there are also significant interface risks between engineering, component delivery, and construction. At the same time, the goal is to transform unused industrial and conversion sites – such as a 41-hectare former gravel pit – in a way that is both structurally sound and environmentally sustainable, ensuring that renewable energy generation, strict species protection, and land-use requirements go hand in hand.

Solution

• Construction of an integrated hybrid power plant consisting of 46.4 megawatts peak (MWp) of installed PV capacity and a large-scale 57-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS).
• Reduction of interface risks by awarding the entire project lifecycle – from geotechnical engineering through manufacturing and construction to subsequent operation – to a single general contractor (SUNOTEC).
• Installation of approximately 73,000 modern solar modules on the former gravel pit site to generate approximately 50,000 MWh of green electricity annually.
• Seamless technical integration of Statkraft’s storage system with solar generation to smooth out feed-in peaks and provide demand-responsive grid flexibility under the conditions of EEG subsidies.

Innovation factor

• The project breaks down the traditional separation of generation and storage and realizes Germany’s largest EEG-subsidized solar-battery hybrid power plant as a single technological unit.
• The organizational consolidation of all trades minimizes friction losses and creates a highly scalable implementation model for future large-scale hybrid investments.
• Through close cooperation with biologists and environmental planners from Statkraft, the large-scale facility is designed as an ecological refuge that directly integrates power generation with active habitat protection for endangered amphibian, reptile, and bird species.

Impact & Lessons learned

The Zerbst hybrid power plant sets new standards for the grid-friendly transformation of industrial conversion sites. With an annual generation of approximately 50,000 MWh, it can theoretically supply 14,000 households with green electricity, resulting in annual CO₂ savings of approximately 32,000 tons. The most important lesson: The key to a successful energy transition on an industrial scale lies in reducing project complexity through integrated engineering and in transforming abandoned sites into biodiversity hotspots. Technical excellence and ecological responsibility are not mutually exclusive in large-scale projects; rather, they are interdependent.

Flexibly storing and marketing solar power

• © The Mobility House Energy; Electrohold Trade
• © The Mobility House Energy; Electrohold Trade
• © The Mobility House Energy; Electrohold Trade

Challenge

Volatile solar power generation, limited grid flexibility, and fluctuating market conditions make it difficult to integrate renewable energy economically. Excess solar power is to be stored locally, later fed into the grid to support grid services, and marketed via smart software in a way that optimally balances supply, demand, and revenue.

Solution

• Coupling of solar parks and large-scale battery storage systems based on the co-location principle.
• Integration of The Mobility House Energy’s aggregation and trading software to optimize charging and discharging processes.
• Development of a scalable operating model that combines technical integration, control, and sales

Innovation factor

Holistic co-location approach: Solar generation, battery storage, and algorithmic sales are brought together in an integrated system.
Intelligent use of flexibility: The storage system optimizes energy flows, market opportunities, and grid compatibility.
Model transferable across Europe: The project demonstrates how large-scale storage solutions can be established in energy markets in an economically viable and scalable manner.

Impact & Lessons learned

With approximately 2.9 gigawatt-hours of integrated storage capacity, the project ranks among the largest co-location applications of its kind in Europe. It provides insights for future large-scale storage projects, particularly regarding system integration, flexibility trading via FCR, aFRR, day-ahead, intraday, and imbalance markets, as well as scalability in European electricity markets.

How Smart System Integration Makes the Wellness Facility Self-Sufficient

With the comprehensive modernization of its infrastructure, the Bad Wörishofen Thermal Spa is setting new standards for the commercial energy transition. The project combines a large-scale PV parking deck, large-scale industrial storage systems, and EV charging infrastructure into a smart, future-proof integrated system for sustainable and cost-effective self-sufficiency.

• © FENECON
• © FENECON
• © FENECON

Challenge

A modern wellness facility like Therme Bad Wörishofen is inherently extremely energy-intensive. In light of fluctuating energy markets and rising environmental requirements, the company faced the task of establishing a long-term, cost-effective, and crisis-resistant energy supply. The goal was to find a solution that maximizes on-site, decentralized generation, reduces external grid consumption, and intelligently networks the generation and consumption components in daily operations.

Solution

• Large-scale PV parking lot roof for generation: Transforming existing areas into a power plant. By covering the spa parking lot with solar modules, a photovoltaic system with a capacity of 1.34 megawatts (MW) was implemented.
• Large-scale industrial storage and system integration: To utilize the volatile solar power flexibly and in line with demand, three high-performance battery storage systems with a total output of 3x736 kW and a total capacity of 3,864 kWh were integrated. A specially constructed substation forms the heart of the system networking and controls the energy flow between generators, storage systems, and consumers.
• Integrated charging infrastructure and prospective sector coupling: Direct linking of energy generation and mobility through the installation of 28 charging points for electric vehicles. While the existing combined heat and power plants and boilers provide the thermal foundation, the system architecture is already fully prepared for the future integration of a large-scale heat pump.

Innovation factor

• Complete temporary self-sufficiency in large-scale commercial operations: Demonstration of how an energy-intensive leisure facility of this scale can achieve complete energy self-sufficiency on sunny days. Under maximum sunlight, the system produces up to 180% of the spa’s current total energy demand.
  
• From Large-Scale Consumer to Smart Grid Player: A systematic transformation from a traditional, purely grid-dependent energy consumer to an intelligently networked, largely self-sufficient energy system. The combination of decentralized PV generation, industrial storage capacity, and future-proof sector coupling sets new industry standards.

Impact & Lessons learned

The Bad Wörishofen Thermal Spa impressively demonstrates that climate protection and securing economic viability in the tourism and service sectors can go hand in hand. By realigning the infrastructure, the facility achieved a significant reduction in grid consumption while simultaneously maximizing its self-consumption rate. The project serves as a practical blueprint for energy-intensive businesses across Europe: It shows how unused infrastructure areas can become a cornerstone of a future-proof energy supply through intelligent system networking.

Sector coupling via integrated compact stations

With the comprehensive modernization of its infrastructure, the Bad Wörishofen Thermal Spa is setting new standards for the commercial energy transition. The project combines a large-scale PV parking deck, large-scale industrial storage systems, and EV charging infrastructure into a smart, future-proof integrated system for sustainable and cost-effective self-sufficiency.

Challenge

The integration of large-scale decentralized generation with modern mobility infrastructure places high demands on grid connection technology. For the FEAG Energy Hub, the task was to integrate a rooftop PV system with a capacity of over 2,000 kWp, an extensive charging infrastructure for passenger cars and trucks, and the commercial area’s regular grid consumption into a stable overall system. The core challenges lay in the physical consolidation of these diverse system components within a compact substation solution. Additionally, a complex protection concept to ensure supply reliability, precise EZA control technology including load management, a higher-level energy management system, and a reliable communication link to the regional energy supplier’s control center had to be implemented with process reliability.

Solution

• Compact and robust energy solution: FEAG developed an innovative, non-accessible compact transformer station (TKS) made of robust, hot-dip galvanized, and powder-coated sheet steel, which guarantees maximum durability. Inside, two separate low-voltage distribution systems, including modern protection and measurement technology, were installed.
• Standard-compliant mixed operation: The system fully complies with the strict requirements of VDE-AR-N 4110, IEC 61439-1/2, and all relevant medium- and low-voltage standards (IEC/VDE/TAB), thereby ensuring safe mixed operation of all energy flows.
• Precise energy flow control: The custom-adapted control technology and the well-thought-out energy distribution concept enable precise control of grid flows (including surplus feed-in) while fully complying with grid connection requirements. Coupled with intelligent load management, the station ensures efficient distribution and reliably absorbs load peaks.

Impact & Lessons learned

The project refutes the traditional view of solar energy as an unreliable energy source and demonstrates that renewable energy can support and ensure grid stability. Zwartowo offers a glimpse into a system that can be fully powered by renewables: relevant system services can be provided economically and profitably through solar energy.

In Poland, the Zwartowo large-scale PV plant has been participating in the balancing energy market since 2026. It reliably provides balancing energy through innovative solutions in active power control as well as data and forecasting tools. The project thus demonstrates that solar energy can assume system responsibility and ensure grid stability.

Challenge

In energy systems with increasing shares of renewable energy, the synchronous generators of fossil fuel power plants are no longer able to fulfill their function of maintaining grid stability. In the future, balancing services for grid stabilization must be provided by renewable energy producers. By optimizing the operation of the PV system, reliable balancing energy can be provided.

Solution

• Enhanced controllability and grid compliance: Precise active power control, fast response times, and continuous availability. The system can reliably follow control signals under changing weather conditions.
• High-resolution data, forecasts, and control infrastructure: Very high data quality, real-time monitoring, and reliable production forecasts. A remote load-frequency control (LFC) node, along with robust control and communication systems, enables precise scheduling and verification.
• Comprehensive operational qualification and testing: The qualification process included extensive TSO-compliant testing, regulatory validations, and close coordination with grid operators to ensure that the solar plant can provide balancing power with the same reliability as conventional plants.

Innovation factor

• First large-scale photovoltaic plant in Poland qualified for balancing energy: Zwartowo is the first large-scale PV plant to meet the strict technical, regulatory, and operational requirements of the balancing energy market.
• Solar PV is transforming from a passive generator to an active system service provider: The project demonstrates that PV plants can deliver precise controllability, high-quality real-time data, and reliable operational performance despite weather-related fluctuations.
• EPC quality and plant management as a path to market integration: Zwartowo demonstrates that only well-designed, professionally built, and actively managed PV plants are suitable for balancing services. High EPC standards and advanced plant management directly lead to new market access and additional value streams.

Impact & Lessons learned

The FEAG Energy Hub provides a practical model for the urban energy transition and commercial grid expansion. By centrally consolidating all applications into a compact sheet-steel station from FEAG, operating and maintenance costs are reduced and the overall efficiency of energy flows is increased. The flexible, modular design of the FEAG compact stations also guarantees future-proof scalability: future expansions of the charging infrastructure or additional energy sources such as battery storage can be easily implemented without major changes to the existing infrastructure.

Smart Hybrid Solution for Maximum Self-Sufficiency

With the comprehensive modernization of its infrastructure, the Bad Wörishofen Thermal Spa is setting new standards for the commercial energy transition. The project combines a large-scale PV parking deck, large-scale industrial storage systems, and EV charging infrastructure into a smart, future-proof integrated system for sustainable and cost-effective self-sufficiency.

• © Huawei
• © Huawei
• © Huawei

Challenge

Commercial enterprises with high energy demands face the challenge of sustainably reducing their energy costs while simultaneously achieving the highest possible level of local energy self-sufficiency. For the metal and plant engineering firm MAW Eckartshausen, the task was to efficiently integrate a new infrastructure combining on-site generation and storage. The project required a VDE-certified hybrid power controller to ensure both self-consumption optimization and secure surplus feed-in for direct energy trading in compliance with regulations. The technical complexity of the overall system, as well as the coordination of numerous parties involved in project management, were the main hurdles in its implementation.

Solution

• Implementation of a smart hybrid system: Combination of a 256 kWp photovoltaic system with a 215 kWh battery energy storage system (BESS) for optimal sector coupling.
• Standardized hybrid EMS: Use of the EZA blue’Log XC controller from ingenia in a ready-to-connect control cabinet, which serves as a manufacturer-independent, freely configurable, and scalable control solution to manage flexible feed-in control and the direct marketing interface.
• Efficient commissioning & controlling: Reduction of on-site installation effort through digital pre-project planning and remote commissioning. During operation, the professional monitoring software VCOM ensures central control and continuous monitoring of all performance data.

Innovation factor

• The energy management system used is based on the standardized blue’Log PPC controller, which is fully VDE-certified from the factory.
• This innovative system architecture eliminates the need for the otherwise standard, cost-intensive use of a custom-programmed programmable logic controller (PLC).
• The project demonstrates that complex commercial hybrid systems can be radically simplified through standardization, scaled independently of manufacturers, and integrated into existing marketing structures without any disruption.

Impact & Lessons learned

The sector hybrid model delivers outstanding results in real-world commercial operations: Since commissioning, nearly 13 MWh of clean solar power has already been flexibly stored in the battery and used as needed. As a result, external electricity procurement from the public grid has dropped by a good quarter to just 37 MWh. The project demonstrates how the standardization of control components makes complex systems easily manageable even for medium-sized industrial companies, significantly reduces energy costs, and paves the way for profitable, decentralized energy self-sufficiency.

Intelligent AI control reduces energy costs by up to 30%

Before implementing flexOn, the cooling logistics provider Peter Bade GmbH lacked detailed insight into its many individual energy flows. encentive’s intelligent platform now automatically connects and controls refrigeration systems, heat pumps, and PV systems. Peak shaving and the use of low electricity prices on the spot market significantly reduce costs.

• © encentive
• © encentive
• © encentive

Challenge

• Before the project was implemented, the cooling logistics provider lacked a transparent overview of its own energy flows, and the manual effort required to compile load profiles was high.
• At the same time, existing potential – such as self-generated PV electricity or purchasing electricity based on spot market prices – could not be utilized efficiently.
• In addition, there were high grid costs due to peak loads, as dynamic load management was lacking.

Solution

• Networking and intelligent control of the energy infrastructure: Peter Bade GmbH operates a 6,500 m² refrigeration and logistics facility equipped with a refrigeration system, a heat pump, and its own PV systems. Through the implementation of the flexOn platform, all energy systems were interconnected and centrally controlled. An AI-supported analysis enables precise forecasting of energy consumption and generation as well as automated optimization of the system.
• Dynamic load shifting and peak shaving: Electricity consumption is specifically shifted to times of low electricity exchange prices, when a large amount of electricity from renewables is typically available. At the same time, load peaks are reduced through the use of the facility’s own PV electricity and intelligent peak shaving. The cooling system serves as thermal storage when electricity is available at low prices.
• System integration and utilization of synergy effects: Additionally, all components of the energy system are interlinked so that synergy effects – such as through the use of waste heat – are optimized.

Innovation factor

• Networking and intelligent control of the energy infrastructure: Peter Bade GmbH operates a 6,500 m² refrigeration and logistics facility equipped with a refrigeration system, a heat pump, and its own PV systems. Through the implementation of the flexOn platform, all energy systems were interconnected and centrally controlled. An AI-supported analysis enables precise forecasting of energy consumption and generation as well as automated optimization of the system.
• Dynamic load shifting and peak shaving: Electricity consumption is specifically shifted to times of low electricity exchange prices, when a large amount of electricity from renewables is typically available. At the same time, load peaks are reduced through the use of the facility’s own PV electricity and intelligent peak shaving. The cooling system serves as thermal storage when electricity is available at low prices.
• System integration and utilization of synergy effects: Additionally, all components of the energy system are interlinked so that synergy effects – such as through the use of waste heat – are optimized.

Impact & Lessons learned

The savings in energy consumption and costs, as well as the reduction in CO₂ emissions, are significant.

Savings in the year under review:

• Electricity consumption: -11.3 percent (135 megawatt-hours)
• Energy prices: -15.6 percent
• Grid fees: -30 percent
• CO₂ emissions: -54 tons

The project demonstrates that intelligent control systems can play a central role in decarbonizing the commercial sector and increasing its efficiency. It becomes clear that the greatest leverage lies not solely in new infrastructure, but in the intelligent use and networking of existing systems.

Wessels Logistik Relys on PV, Storage, and Coneva

• © Coneva
• © Coneva
• © Coneva

Challenge

The comprehensive electrification of a heavy-duty truck fleet often encounters infrastructural limitations in practice. At Wessels Logistik, an installed charging capacity of 1,600 kW (distributed across 8 charging points of 200 kW each) was contrasted with a strictly limited grid connection capacity of just 500 kW. The core challenge was to ensure the uninterrupted operational readiness of 12 electric trucks in the demanding day-to-day logistics environment without overloading grid capacities. At the same time, the goal was to economically optimize the synchronization of complex and highly variable charging profiles with the volatile generation from an in-house PV system (521 kWp), a battery storage system (1,288 kWh), and dynamic electricity market prices.

Solution

• Implementation of a local energy management system (EMS): Use of an intelligent edge controller (coneva Flex) for fully automated, forecast-based live control of the PV system, battery storage, and charging infrastructure.
• Smart peak shaving & load shifting: Reliable capping of the maximum grid connection power at 500 kW and targeted shifting of charging processes to periods outside of peak load windows (atypical grid usage per § 19 StromNEV) as well as during times of low electricity exchange prices.
• Maximization of PV self-consumption: Temporary storage of locally generated solar power in the 1,288 kWh battery storage system for time-delayed, demand-based charging of electric trucks, with operational logistics requirements always remaining a priority.

Innovation factor

• The project combines several complex optimization goals into a single, forecast-based control system.
• The charging infrastructure does not operate in isolation but is fully integrated with generation, storage, grid constraints, and the electricity market.
• The battery storage system’s pioneering multi-use approach enables the simultaneous management of peak shaving, self-consumption maximization, grid fee minimization, and the utilization of dynamic electricity tariffs within a scalable model.

Impact & Lessons learned

The project provides practical proof that the deployment of high-performance electric fleets can be realized immediately – even with insufficient grid connections –without expensive and time-consuming grid expansion measures. The measurable success is reflected in a reduction of grid fees by up to 80 percent through the successful implementation of atypical grid usage. At the same time, pure electricity procurement costs were reduced by up to 30 percent through dynamic control and the utilization of flexible market prices. Wessels Logistik thus demonstrates a highly scalable model for the cost-effective decarbonization of heavy-duty transport in the commercial small and medium-sized enterprise sector.

A community and its citizens benefit from an integrated renewable energy system

The energy-transitioning municipality of Bosbüll demonstrates how rural regions can shape the energy transition themselves: With solar and wind farms, a local heating network, and hydrogen production, the community has created an integrated energy system that intelligently utilizes local generation and financially involves the residents.

Challenge

Generating electricity from renewable energy sources in rural areas poses challenges for local grids. These are often underdeveloped, and at the same time, there is a lack of large consumers. The goal in Bosbüll was therefore to find a solution that makes sensible use of the electricity produced there locally and strengthens local value creation. To build acceptance, residents were involved early on—and are now reaping tangible benefits from the revenue.

Solution

• Renewable energy with citizen participation: Bosbüll began construction of its first solar park as early as 2012; by the end of 2025, the third community solar park went into operation, expanding the municipality’s energy production by an additional 49 megawatts. Two wind farms– the first of which was built in the 1990s – complement local electricity generation.
• Heat generation via Power-to-Heat: Using Power-to-Heat, renewable electricity is converted into heat via a 240-kW heat pump and has been fed into a local heating network since 2020. When there is a surplus of electricity in the public grid, a heating element uses the otherwise curtailed wind and solar power to generate additional heat, which is stored in a generously sized buffer tank. A peak-load boiler serves as a backup to ensure heat supply even during heat pump maintenance, for example.
• Green hydrogen via power-to-gas: In addition, a production facility for green hydrogen has been established, whose electrolysis capacity is currently being expanded to 2 MW. It also uses the renewable electricity generated on-site and can feed its process heat into the Bosbüll district heating network. The hydrogen produced serves, among other things, as an energy carrier for fuel cell buses in regional public transportation.
• Expansion of storage options for surplus electricity: A battery storage system is planned to store surplus electricity in the future and make it available for other sectors.

Innovation factor

• Integrated, cross-sector energy system: The project combines renewable electricity generation with heat supply and hydrogen production. The targeted use of surplus electricity creates a flexible, cross-sector energy system.
• Local value creation and acceptance: The interplay of community energy, local infrastructure, and scalable technology creates a flagship project for an integrated, renewable energy system. Direct citizen participation promotes acceptance of energy transition measures.

Impact & Lessons learned

• Bosbüll benefits directly from the energy transition: Revenue from the facilities is invested in community development – including a new community center, a playground, and the renovation of streets and paths. Daycare and nursery spots are subsidized, and families also receive a “Christmas child allowance.” In 2023, the property tax rate was significantly reduced from 340 to 100 percent.
• A key lesson is the importance of flexible systems for utilizing surplus electricity, as well as the active involvement of the municipality for long-term success.
• The project demonstrates that renewable energy not only reduces emissions but also improves the local quality of life. The key lies in combining technical solutions, local participation, and a long-term perspective.

Sector Coupling and Facade PV for Maximum Home Portability

• © Prolux Solutions (c/o Kermi GmbH); Nopper Solar
• © Prolux Solutions (c/o Kermi GmbH); Nopper Solar
• © Prolux Solutions (c/o Kermi GmbH); Nopper Solar

Challenge

An existing 9.88 kWp rooftop PV system – which is somewhat undersized for a two-family home including an electric vehicle – is to be optimized to achieve an 87% self-sufficiency rate year-round and ensure a reliable emergency power supply. The challenge lies in intelligently smoothing out yield peaks, covering the high energy demands of electric mobility without drawing power from the grid, and bridging the typical winter generation shortfall as well as the evening consumption peak.

Solution

• Integration of a generously sized 15-kWh battery storage system in the basement to smooth out yield peaks and fully cover nighttime consumption.
• Installation of a high-performance 12-kW inverter that serves as the system hub and provides sufficient power reserves for future system networks.
• Implementation of intelligent charging management for the wallbox with a strict prioritization cascade: home consumption before battery storage, before electric car, before grid feed-in.
• Control of the electric vehicle charging process via optimized, lower charging power (e.g., 3.7 kW instead of 11 kW) during the day to prevent unwanted depletion of the storage system during temporary overcast conditions.
• Planned expansion of the system to include a vertical 6-kWp west-facing facade PV system to specifically cover evening consumption peaks and maximize solar yield during low winter sun or when the roof is covered with snow.

Innovation factor

• The project combines an existing system from 2010 with state-of-the-art storage technology and intelligent prioritization of large consumers through targeted retrofitting.
• The targeted use of a vertical facade PV system breaks away from the traditional focus on roof surfaces alone to architecturally synchronize generation and consumption (evening peak, winter yield).
• The system integrates storage, intelligent surplus charging, and multidirectional PV surfaces into a highly resilient sector-coupling model for private residential use, serving as a blueprint for the gradual transformation toward a true off-grid solution.

Impact & Lessons learned

The project demonstrates the enormous leverage of intelligent storage management and cross-sector optimization in private residential construction. Through this transformation, self-consumption will more than quadruple from 879 kWh to a projected 3,932 kWh per year. The result is a massive leap in the self-sufficiency rate from a meager 9.39% (current status prior to storage expansion) to the ambitious target of 87%. The most important lesson: A smartly sized storage system, combined with an intelligently controlled wallbox and complementary alignment of the PV modules (roof + facade), makes even supposedly small, older systems capable of providing complete, renewable self-sufficiency for both home and mobility.

An Urban Campus as a Blueprint for Net Zero

In partnership with Siemens, the University of East London (UEL) is transforming its campuses into smart, carbon-neutral sites. The project combines drastic decarbonization with the training of the next generation of sustainability experts. In the first year alone, 470 tons of CO₂ were saved and energy costs were significantly reduced.

Challenge

UEL faces a unique urban challenge: nestled in the heart of East London, flanked by the River Thames and London City Airport, the campus offers little room for new green spaces. The Net Zero strategy therefore had to find innovative ways to achieve significant emissions reductions in a limited space while simultaneously transforming academic operations into a “real-world laboratory.”

Solution

• Smart Infrastructure & BMS: Installation of 11,000 LED lights and connection of 35 buildings to a cloud-based building management system (BMS) for real-time optimization of energy consumption.
• Decentralized Energy Generation: Installation of 1.5 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, which delivers 1.2 GWh of emission-free electricity annually. 90% is consumed directly on-site, with the remainder fed into the national power grid.
• Sustainable mobility: Establishment of a comprehensive charging infrastructure with 27 Siemens EV charging points on the Docklands Campus to promote e-mobility among students and staff.
• Living Lab & Innovation Hub: Utilization of campus data for research and teaching, as well as the creation of a hub for local green energy startups.

Innovation factor

The holistic approach makes the difference: Siemens integrates sustainability directly into the curriculum. The “Living Lab” uses real-time building operational data for academic research. This makes the campus not only a place of learning but also an active testing ground for the urban energy transition, linking technological solutions with the promotion of “Green Talents.”

Impact & Lessons learned

Within a very short time, a 10% reduction in CO₂ emissions (approx. 470 tons in the first year) was achieved. The long-term goal is an annual savings of 4,500 tons of CO₂ and a reduction in energy costs of over £500,000 per year. The project demonstrates that even urban educational institutions without room for expansion can play a pioneering role in decarbonization through smart technology and partnerships.

The BiFlex-Industrie project integrates vehicle fleets and commuter vehicles into companies’ energy supply as storage units via bidirectional charging. At seven locations with approximately 40 vehicles, bidirectional charging systems, standardized interfaces, and viable business models are being tested in real-world conditions.

Challenge

Vehicle batteries are ideal for load balancing in the power grid, yet market-ready solutions for bidirectional charging are lacking. The hurdles are complex: There is a shortage of production-ready charging systems and software integration of infrastructure and data platforms. Furthermore, a lack of standards and strict regulatory frameworks complicate real-world operation.

Solution

• Real-world system demonstration and fleet management: Deployment of demonstration systems featuring approximately 40 AC/DC vehicles capable of power recovery at seven locations, along with the development of open interfaces for coordinated fleet management.
• Precise forecasts and fully automated integration: Use of new methods for accurately predicting flexibility potential and seamlessly linking hardware and software with existing energy and IT platforms.
• Practical sector coupling: Testing concrete, forward-looking use cases for the intelligent connection of photovoltaic systems and electric mobility in real-world operation.

Innovation factor

• Transition to a holistic fleet power plant: Transformation from an isolated stand-alone solution to a networked overall system. The project bundles mobile storage units into a controllable entity for the energy system.
• Holistic standardization and system integration: First-of-its-kind combination of open technical standards and real-world software integration. The charging infrastructure is seamlessly integrated into industrial IT and data platforms.
• Market-ready testing and blueprint creation: Validation of concrete business models in a real industrial environment. The project creates a scalable template for the large-scale integration of mobile storage into the broader power grid.

Impact & Lessons learned

The innovation factor lies in the shift from isolated solutions to a holistic “fleet power plant.” For the first time, the project brings together open standards, software-based system integration, and real-world business models in an industrial setting. This creates the blueprint for the large-scale, market-ready integration of mobile storage into the power grid.

A new, scalable energy ecosystem provides the site and its truck charging infrastructure with sustainable energy. At its heart are a 1,015 kWp PV system and a 510 kWh battery storage unit. Four 150 kW DC charging stations charge electric commercial vehicles. AI-supported energy management optimizes operations during day-to-day business.

Challenge

The core task was to strictly adhere to the 500 kW grid feed-in limit. This is ensured by intelligent and predictive control of all energy sources and consumers. The system continuously balances the grid, self-consumption, and charging demands, and integrates seamlessly into logistics processes.

Solution

AI-supported and holistic system orchestration: Centralized control of the PV system, battery storage, and truck charging points via an intelligent energy management system (EMS).

Weather- and forecast-optimized control: Dynamic and predictive adjustment of energy flows based on precise weather forecasts. The PV-optimized EMS control reacts early to weather changes to maximize self-generation and intelligently manage generation peaks.

Future-proof and scalable energy concept: Modular and flexible system architecture that can be easily expanded. The infrastructure is designed to grow seamlessly alongside the logistics site’s expansion and increasing demands on charging capacity.

Innovation factor

Holistic system orchestration instead of isolated siloed solutions: Integration of all energy components into a smart overall system

AI-supported and forecast-based energy management: Predictive control through artificial intelligence.

Impact & Lessons learned

The economic impact of the project is significant: Through the intelligent combination of highly efficient PV generation, optimized storage, and AI-based energy management, electricity costs are expected to be reduced by up to 35%. These projected savings sustainably lower operating costs and make the logistics site less dependent on fluctuating energy prices.

OctoFlexBW: Micro-Flexibility Ready for Real-World Grid Deployment

Through the OctoFlexBW pilot project, TransnetBW and Octopus Energy have jointly demonstrated how the energy transition works on the road. Over 700 electric vehicles were successfully interconnected to stabilize the power grid reliably and flexibly (keyword: Redispatch 3.0). The successful project shows: micro-flexibility is ready for real-world deployment—a real win for grid stability and a benefit for all drivers.

Challenge

The biggest hurdle for the pilot project was to implement redispatch using micro-flexibility from over 700 electric vehicles on a fully end-to-end basis. For this nationwide first, the extremely high regulatory and practical requirements of existing energy industry processes had to be met seamlessly under real-world conditions.

Solution

• Scalable end-to-end process chain: Fully integrated processes from the top-level system management down to the individual technical units in the field. The architecture enables seamless and automated transmission of control signals across all system levels.
• Cloud-based signal routing and platform synchronization: Direct provision of redispatch requests via the main control line on TransnetBW’s proprietary data platform DA/RE. From there, the signals are automatically transmitted via standardized protocols directly to the control platform.
• Precise, decentralized charging control via KrakenFlex: Precise and real-time regulation of the charging processes for hundreds of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) belonging to participating customers.

Innovation factor

• Scalable flexibility potential and cost savings: Achieving a daily call-off volume of 2 MWh from the 700 test vehicles alone. The processes established could be scaled immediately and implemented in grid operations.

Impact & Lessons learned

With a fleet of 700 electric cars, 2 MWh was drawn daily. Based on this projection, one million vehicles could already cover around 5% of Germany’s redispatch demand and save enormous costs. Another success was customer satisfaction: Over the entire duration, there was not a single piece of negative feedback from the participating electric car owners.

How to Achieve Zero-Emission Heavy-Duty Long-Haul Transport on European Routes

Through a groundbreaking pilot project, Siemens and logistics company Kuehne+Nagel are demonstrating that fully electric heavy-duty long-haul transport can handle even demanding international routes without compromise. Through the strategic use of electric trucks and customized charging technology, a 5,500-km transport route across Europe has been successfully decarbonized.

Challenge

The electrification of international heavy-duty long-haul transport is considered the pinnacle of logistics due to long distances and strict schedules. An emission-free solution was to be implemented for regular shipments from the Siemens distribution center in Halle (Germany) to the production plant in Corroios (Portugal). The key challenge was to plan the 5,500-km route in such a way that, despite the charging requirements, payload constraints, and the search for suitable charging stations, there would be no compromise on the demanding delivery times compared to conventional diesel trucks.

Solution

• Seamless integration into daily logistics operations: Utilizing Kuehne+Nagel’s in-depth logistics expertise to successfully establish the first heavy-duty electric truck on this international route. The e-truck initially operates twice a month and demonstrates that zero-emission transport can be integrated into daily plant operations without any loss of performance.
• Smart route and break management: Meticulous route planning that takes into account the vehicle’s payload and the availability of charging stations. The necessary charging stops were integrated precisely into the drivers’ legally mandated rest breaks that the total transit time and efficiency of the transport match those of a diesel truck.
• Holistic eMobility Ecosystem: The project combines depots, fleet management, and en-route charging solutions into a scalable overall system. A special sustainability cycle: The charging technology used is produced at the CO₂-neutral Siemens plant in Corroios (the route’s destination).

Innovation factor

• Equivalent performance on continental long-haul routes: Practical proof that fully electric heavy-duty transport over a distance of 5,500 km can meet international deadlines and supply chain schedules without any loss of time. The project counters the preconception that electric trucks are only suitable for regional transport.
• Holistic sustainability approach: The project is part of Siemens’ holistic sustainability strategy. It demonstrates the transformation of an entire supply chain—from emission-free transport and smart charging infrastructure to the CO₂-neutral production of charging technology on-site.

Impact & Lessons learned

The collaboration between Kuehne+Nagel and Siemens impressively demonstrates to the logistics industry that emission-free long-haul transport is already feasible today without compromise. Every single round trip on this route saves a remarkable 3.8 tons of CO₂ emissions compared to a diesel truck (calculated based on market-based charging electricity). The successful project builds confidence in the technology and serves as a milestone on the path to a more sustainable European transport corridor.

How Integrated Charging Infrastructure Is Electrifying European Heavy-Duty Transport

With a bold pioneering project, the long-established logistics company Nanno Janssen is demonstrating that the decarbonization of the logistics sector is already succeeding on a large scale today. By combining a zero-emission electric truck fleet, a 3-MW Siemens charging infrastructure with battery storage, and its own photovoltaic system, the company is creating a groundbreaking, self-sufficient logistics depot for European long-haul transport.

Challenge

Heavy-duty and long-haul transport is considered particularly difficult to electrify due to high mileage and high power demands. For the logistics company Nanno Janssen, the goal was to develop a future-proof strategy to end dependence on fossil fuels and reduce CO₂ emissions as well as noise pollution. The company sought a scalable solution that would enable the simultaneous charging of dozens of 500 hp electric trucks without overloading the local power grid.

Solution

• Complete high-power charging infrastructure from a single source: Establishment of a high-performance infrastructure by Siemens. This includes a dedicated substation with 4 megawatts (MW) of capacity as well as ten SICHARGE D charging stations, each with a capacity of 300 kilowatts (kW). With a total of 20 charging points, up to 20 heavy-duty semi-trucks can be reliably supplied with power simultaneously.
• Combined on-site power generation and smart battery storage: Installation of a company-owned 800-kW photovoltaic system on an open area directly adjacent to the depot. A coupled 1.2-MW battery storage system, in combination with a smart charging management system, absorbs generation peaks. This allows the trucking company to flexibly charge the truck batteries with solar power or, as an active electricity retailer, feed surpluses profitably into the grid.
• Consistent fleet conversion and route certification: Strategic transformation of the vehicle fleet. By the end of the year, 50 of the 80 trucks will already be fully electric, with the entire fleet set to be almost completely electrified by 2030. The e-trucks achieve ranges of up to 600 kilometers and, thanks to Siemens charging technology, can be seamlessly recharged during the legally mandated 45-minute driver breaks for European long-haul transport.

Innovation factor

• Real-world European long-haul heavy-duty transport without diesel: Practical proof that fully electric 500 hp semi-trucks can operate reliably and economically not only in local areas but also on European long-haul routes as far as Sweden, Italy, or Portugal. Around 90 percent of logistics routes are already covered purely by electric power.
• From pure logistics provider to self-sufficient electricity supplier: Through the intelligent sector coupling of transportation and renewable energy generation, the logistics company breaks free from its dependence on global oil suppliers. The depot functions as a decentralized energy hub that effectively avoids grid load peaks thanks to intelligent energy management software.

Impact & Lessons learned

The project by the Nanno Janssen logistics company dispels the misconception that e-mobility is unsuitable for long-distance transport and provides a blueprint for the logistics industry that is visible across Europe. Collaborations of this kind demonstrate how a robust e-mobility ecosystem comprising vehicles and smart infrastructure can grow to reduce market costs in the long term. In addition to the complete reduction of CO₂ and noise at the depot, experience shows that the system increases the appeal of the driving profession: Drivers benefit from better acceleration, a quiet, stress-free driving experience, and return home from their routes feeling more relaxed.

How Urban V2G Car Sharing Stabilizes the Grid

Utrecht Energized marks the launch of Europe’s first comprehensive vehicle-to-grid car-sharing system in the Netherlands. The project combines electric mobility, bidirectional charging, and renewable energy into a smart solution for urban mobility and grid stability.

• © Renault Group, We Drive Solar, MyWheels, Stadt Utrecht
• © Renault Group, We Drive Solar, MyWheels, Stadt Utrecht
• © Renault Group, We Drive Solar, MyWheels, Stadt Utrecht

Challenge

As the share of renewable energy increases, so do the demands on the stability of local power grids. At the same time, cities need sustainable and affordable mobility solutions. Therefore, a solution was sought that intelligently combines electric mobility, solar power, and grid flexibility and functions reliably in everyday life.

Solution

• Large-scale V2G car-sharing system and bidirectional fleet: Development of Europe’s first large-scale Vehicle-to-Grid system. Operations began with an initial fleet of 50 bidirectionally chargeable Renault 5 E-Tech electric vehicles, which can flexibly draw power from the grid and feed it back in during periods of high grid load, with plans to scale the fleet up to 500 vehicles.
• Integrated charging infrastructure and temporary storage using car batteries: Provision of a dense network of V2G-capable charging points by We Drive Solar. The smart infrastructure enables efficient temporary storage of surplus solar power and its feed-back into the grid as needed to optimally balance local grid loads.
• Geographic scaling and concept transfer: Successful expansion of the proven concept in Utrecht to more than 300 V2G cars and to the city of Eindhoven to increase regional grid benefits.

Innovation factor

• Real-world urban car-sharing operation with grid benefits: First demonstration in Europe of how bidirectional charging works seamlessly in regular urban car-sharing. The vehicles play a dual role: as a mobility solution suitable for everyday use and, at the same time, as mobile energy storage units for the flexible stabilization of the power grid.
• Sector coupling and scalable smart city model: Consistent and close integration of modern mobility, intelligent charging infrastructure, and decentralized generation from renewable energies.

Impact & Lessons learned

Utrecht Energized demonstrates that car-sharing fleets can actively ensure local grid stability through flexible storage capacity while simultaneously increasing their economic viability. The project serves as a European blueprint for a systemic energy and mobility transition: cross-sector collaboration makes it possible to provide relevant grid services reliably and profitably in urban areas.