German town of Beckum launches utility-scale battery storage with community investment option

German municipal utility Energieversorgung Beckum (EVB), electricity giant Eon Energy Solutions, distribution network operator Westenergie, and energy optimizer Entrix are installing a 20 MW/55 MWh BESS to the grid at the North Rhine-Westphalian town of Beckum.

The project partners are offering up to 500 Beckum residents the opportunity of investing €500 to €25,000 into the BESS, with EVB customers receiving 3.5% interest on their investment and other participants 3%. The seven-year qualified subordinated loan open to resident participation – which would be repaid after senior loans, in the event of default – is worth €3 million.

EVB will be responsible for project management and public participation and Eon Energy Solutions will cover technical planning with the partners having established the Beckumer Batteriespeicher GmbH joint venture for the BESS. Westenergie Netzservice will construct, maintain, and operate the battery.

With the BESS set to participate on energy markets, artificial intelligence-backed Entrix will optimize its operation and will sell its services on primary- and secondary-control power, day-ahead, and intraday trading markets.

“Battery storage systems like the one in Beckum make a contribution where it matters most: in the regional grid, close to generation and consumption,” said Steffen Schülzchen, founder and CEO of Entrix. “Especially in municipalities, we see the concrete impact of grid-friendly flexibility – for security of supply, for the integration of renewable energies, and for an energy transition that is felt locally.”

From pv magazine Deutschland.