Store, relieve and economise: Speira invests 1.9 million Euros in large-scale battery storage

Speira has invested 1.9 million euros in the new large-scale battery storage system. The project was completed in just one year of planning, approval and construction time, and the grey containers have been in service between the AL 2 and AL 3 automotive lines since the beginning of the year. Whenever the wind blows and the sun shines and a corresponding amount of green electricity is fed into the grid, Speira charges the storage system and uses the electricity later when it is needed at the plant. In this way, the aluminium specialist synchronises the volatile renewable generation with its own demand and relieves the grid at the same time.

“In 2022, we still had a peak load of 29 megawatts of electricity. With the new battery storage system, we can now reduce this by up to three megawatts, make a contribution to grid stability and shape the energy transition in a very tangible way,” explains Speira Managing Director Volker Backs.

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Peak load – this is the electricity demand that the aluminium roller and recycler develops above the normal, average consumption when an unusually large number of systems start-up in parallel at the Grevenbroich plant and thus generate the so-called load peaks.

“We are acting in a grid-friendly manner and at the same time have the advantage of being able to run our production more smoothly and thus fulfil our orders more reliably and on time. Previously, systems had to wait for clearance to start up during peak load phases,” continues Backs.

The smooth cooperation with the city of Grevenbroich, which issued the building permit in a very short time, was also crucial for the rapid realisation of the energy transition project. Mayor Klaus Krützen also came to the plant for the inauguration.

“Speira’s new battery storage system is a strong example of how companies can actively contribute to the energy transition. Through the targeted use of renewable energies and the smoothing of load peaks, Speira not only makes an important contribution to grid stability but also shows how economic efficiency and climate protection can go hand in hand. The rapid realisation of this project underlines the fact that technological innovation and sustainable management are not a vision of the future here in Grevenbroich, but a reality. I hope that this project will act as a signal for further investment in forward-looking energy concepts – because if you want structural change, you have to provide sufficient energy,” said the mayor.