Sustainable Battery Technology: HU, BAM and HZB plan joint Berlin Battery Lab Press Portal

Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. It stands out as a unique market, development platform and export hub. Energy storage systems are an integral part of Germany’s Energy Transition (Energiewende). The German government is planning further measures to make the integration of storage systems smooth and effective. “The great expansion of renewable energies is driving this dynamic, particularly for large-scale storage systems, which are currently so lucrative that they usually pay for themselves within a few years. This is the only way to discover how safe, sustainable, and scalable Prussian blue can be as a storage material.

‘We will jointly advance the development of sustainable sodium and sulphur batteries with the combined expertise of HZB, BAM and HU – and thus make an important contribution to successfully shaping the energy transition.’ Faced with growing grid connection scarcity, some battery storage projects in Germany are now operating under flexible grid connection agreements. The hype around the German battery storage market continues to build – but so do the challenges, particularly around grid connections. We will jointly advance the development of sustainable sodium and sulphur batteries with the combined expertise of HZB, BAM and HU – and thus make an important contribution to successfully shaping the energy transition.” Namely, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has quietly introduced a major change in its updated FAQs on battery storage grid connections, creating new uncertainty for developers. While the need for energy storage is growing across Europe, Germany remains the lead target market and the first choice for companies seeking to enter this developing industry.

With grid connection bottlenecks worsening, co-location is forecasted to see unprecedented growth, not necessarily because it delivers the best returns today, but because it’s becoming a practical necessity. In the field of basic research, material development ties in with the battery activities of the HZB large-scale research facility BESSY-II. The laboratory aims to accelerate the transfer of material developments into marketable products. HU Berlin is a leader in Germany in academic research on sodium-ion batteries. The city offers concentrated expertise in these areas, supported by numerous research projects and high-profile research groups.

BAM is internationally recognised for its expertise in the field of battery safety and electrochemical materials. The laboratory combines the expertise of HU, HZB, and BAM with the aim of establishing Berlin as a location for research into sodium-ion batteries as well as lithium-sulphur and sodium-sulphur batteries. He is a professor at the Institute of Chemistry at Humboldt University in Berlin and was recently awarded the Berlin Science Prize for his research into the development of sustainable batteries. Around ten years ago, the chemical compound and its variants consisting of iron, carbon, nitrogen, and sodium were rediscovered – not as an affordable colouring for artwork, but as a storage material in batteries.

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In certain cases, these arrangements prohibit storage assets from feeding electricity into the grid during peak hours – typically between 7 a.m. Developers must anticipate these shifts by designing assets with flexibility in mind – ready to adapt to evolving market dynamics and grid needs. The establishment of the Berlin Battery Lab is an important step toward strengthening battery research in Berlin and promoting sustainable energy solutions. We look forward to working with our partners and industry to realize groundbreaking projects and further strengthen Berlin as a leading location for battery research.” This is particularly important in an increasingly protectionist trading world, where the availability of sustainable raw materials and thus the secure production of batteries are crucial, even in times of crisis.

Sustainable Battery Technology: HU, BAM and HZB plan joint Berlin Battery Lab

• HU Berlin is a leader in Germany in academic research on sodium-ion batteries.
• At the X-ray source BESSY II, which is operated by HZB, complete battery cells can be analysed in situ and during discharging and charging, i.e. operando.
• “These so-called Prussian blue analogues are a very intensive field of research worldwide,” says renowned electrochemist and materials scientist, Philipp Adelhelm.
• Faced with growing grid connection scarcity, some battery storage projects in Germany are now operating under flexible grid connection agreements.
• Almost 600,000 new stationary battery storage units were installed last year.

‘With the Berlin Battery Lab, we are building a bridge between excellent basic research and marketable, innovative technologies,’ says Prof Dr Christoph Schneider, Vice President for Research at HU. HZB is particularly active in research on lithium-sulphur batteries. Speaking at the BVES event, Britta Wißmann from the law firm Watson Farley Williams explained that the move has raised fresh concerns about delays and risks in Germany’s booming storage pipeline. Most projects today operate fully merchant, but unlike in the UK, many German projects benefit from tolling structures that offer a buffer against price downturns. More importantly, its wholesale power market is the largest and most liquid in Europe, offering significant long-term potential.

BAM develops innovative measurement methods for safe rechargeable batteries

Berlin has established itself as an important location for research into sodium-ion batteries and lithium-sulfur batteries. The joint research infrastructure will also be open to industry for pioneering projects in this field. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy. You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website.

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According to preliminary numbers from the German Solar Industry Association (BSW Solar), there were 1.8 billion installed battery storage systems in Germany at the end of last year. One of the key questions often raised when discussing the German battery storage market is whether it will follow the same path as the UK. Today, some developers in Germany label their projects as “ready to build” (RtB) even without a secured grid connection – arguably the most valuable asset in the market. By setting up a new pouch cell laboratory for sodium-ion batteries at HZB, we aim to strengthen materials research for batteries in Berlin and establish further collaborations with industry.” This will enable us to bring innovative and sustainable battery technologies to market more quickly and thus make an important contribution to the energy transition.

“Design your assets for the future – not just a single market,” Smout advised. Hild also cautioned that hybrid systems (e.g., solar + storage or wind + storage) don’t always guarantee strong returns. In his opening address, Volker Hild, VP Energy Storage at Siemens Energy, described the current landscape as a “perfect storm” for energy storage – shaped by tech shifts, soaring demand, and geopolitical volatility. The event brought together around 500 participants from across the value chain, underscoring the unprecedented investor interest and strategic importance of the German storage market.

Future-proof or fail: how battery storage projects can thrive in Germany

The Berlin Battery Lab is open to industry partners from all over Germany and Europe and serves to promote the development and production of locally manufactured sustainable batteries. The lab will pool the expertise of the three institutions to advance the development of sustainable battery technologies. As capital pours in and gigawatt-hour-scale projects near launch, grid connection delays and regulatory uncertainty are threatening to dampen momentum.

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By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. At the 3rd BVES Investor Summit in Berlin, more than 500 industry leaders gathered to weigh the hype against the hard realities. Home solar power units drove a massive rise in storage capacity in Germany last year. “If we have all the experts sat around one table so to speak, from the basics to the setting of standards, then we can significantly shorten the market entry processes,” explains Mieller.

• The establishment of the Berlin Battery Lab is an important step toward strengthening battery research in Berlin and promoting sustainable energy solutions.
• ‘With the Berlin Battery Lab, we are building a bridge between excellent basic research and marketable, innovative technologies,’ says Prof Dr Christoph Schneider, Vice President for Research at HU.
• This will enable us to bring innovative and sustainable battery technologies to market more quickly and thus make an important contribution to the energy transition.
• Developers must anticipate these shifts by designing assets with flexibility in mind – ready to adapt to evolving market dynamics and grid needs.
• During the 2021–2022 peak, some projects achieved over 50% equity returns.
• By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment.

BAM develops powerful alternative to lithium-ion batteries

Smout noted that while market saturation is a valid concern, Germany’s ancillary services market is exceptionally deep. He stressed the importance of building in optionality – enabling assets to stack multiple value streams such as ancillary services, wholesale arbitrage, and capacity payments. But when the market returned in 2025, it did so with an entirely different revenue stack, exposing the risks of building for short-term gains rather than long-term flexibility. During the 2021–2022 peak, some projects achieved over 50% equity returns.

As the market matures, some revenue streams are expected to dry up while new ones emerge. At the X-ray source BESSY II, which is operated by HZB, complete battery cells can be analysed in situ and during discharging and charging, i.e. operando. Through close cooperation with the Helmholtz Center Berlin and Humboldt chicken road app University, we are pooling our expertise and creating a unique research infrastructure. In addition, physical laboratories are planned in Berlin to support research and development on site.

Mieller uses his doctorate in materials engineering to work on ceramic solid electrolytes for applications in battery technology. HU is a leader in Germany in academic research on sodium-ion batteries. Furthermore, Germany’s grid connection saga has reached a new turning point. According to Smout, such restrictions can reduce a project’s net present value (NPV) of revenues by as much as 22% compared to assets with unrestricted grid access.