Europe’s largest battery storage project is being built in Germany – Electrek

Report on the Jänschwalde GigaBattery Project and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview

A major energy infrastructure project is underway in Jänschwalde, Brandenburg, Germany, which will establish Europe’s largest battery storage system. This initiative is a critical step in advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Project Name: GigaBattery Jänschwalde 1000
• Capacity: 1 gigawatt (GW) / 4 gigawatt-hours (GWh)
• Location: Jänschwalde, Brandenburg, Germany (Lusatian energy region)
• Collaborators: LEAG Clean Power GmbH and Fluence Energy GmbH
• Technology: Fluence Smartstack large-scale energy storage solution

Strategic Objectives and Alignment with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

The primary objective of the GigaBattery project is to support Germany’s transition to a clean energy system. It directly addresses the targets of SDG 7 by ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

1. Increasing the Share of Renewable Energy: The system is designed to store vast amounts of power generated by solar and wind farms, making renewable energy available even when environmental conditions are not favorable for generation.
2. Enhancing Energy Security and Grid Stability: By providing essential grid stabilization services, the battery system improves the reliability of the power supply, a key component of sustainable energy infrastructure.
3. Supporting the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels: The project is instrumental in Germany’s strategy to move away from coal and other fossil fuels, replacing them with a stable and secure clean power system.

Contribution to Broader Sustainable Development Goals

Beyond SDG 7, the Jänschwalde project significantly contributes to a range of interconnected global goals.

• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): This project represents a landmark investment in resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure. The deployment of cutting-edge Smartstack technology showcases innovation that is essential for building a green economy.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): By enabling the large-scale integration of renewables and facilitating the retirement of carbon-intensive power plants, the project is a direct and urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): As part of LEAG’s broader “GigawattFactory” plan, the project aids in the economic transformation of the Lusatian region, historically dependent on coal. It supports a just transition by fostering growth in the green energy sector.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): A stable and clean energy grid is fundamental to the development of sustainable communities. This project ensures a reliable power supply, which is critical for modern economic activity and quality of life.

Conclusion

The GigaBattery Jänschwalde 1000 project is a milestone for the energy future of Germany and Europe. It demonstrates a scalable and technologically advanced solution to the challenges of the energy transition. Its implementation strongly aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of clean energy, climate action, and sustainable infrastructure, positioning it as a key enabler of a sustainable and carbon-neutral economy.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• The article focuses on a massive battery storage system designed to store renewable power. This directly supports the transition to clean energy by addressing the intermittency of sources like solar and wind, as stated in the article: “storing renewable power for when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.” This ensures a more reliable and affordable clean energy supply.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• The project is described as “Europe’s largest battery storage system,” representing a significant development in resilient and sustainable infrastructure. It utilizes “cutting-edge technology” like Fluence’s Smartstack, highlighting innovation in the energy sector. The goal is to “stabilize Germany’s grid,” which is a core aspect of building reliable infrastructure.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The battery system is a key tool for climate change mitigation. By enabling greater use of renewable energy, it directly supports Germany’s plan to “phase out fossil fuels.” The project’s location in “one of Europe’s most coal-heavy regions” further emphasizes its role in transitioning away from carbon-intensive energy sources to combat climate change.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• While not explicitly about cities, the project’s aim to “boost energy security” and provide “constant power regardless of the availability of renewable energies” is fundamental to creating sustainable and resilient communities. A stable and clean power grid is essential infrastructure for the functioning of modern cities and settlements.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article explains that the battery system is crucial for integrating intermittent renewables, thereby directly enabling an increase in their share in Germany’s energy mix.
   • Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology. The project is a collaboration between the German company LEAG and Fluence, a subsidiary of a US-based company, demonstrating international cooperation and investment in large-scale clean energy infrastructure.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The project is explicitly designed to create a reliable and resilient energy grid by playing a “key role in stabilizing Germany’s grid” and ensuring “energy security.”
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… with greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The construction of this battery system in a “coal-heavy region” represents a major upgrade of energy infrastructure with clean technology to support the energy transition.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article mentions that the “German government recently reaffirmed the importance of storage in building a secure and affordable clean power system,” indicating that this project is an implementation of a national strategy to combat climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Capacity of energy storage infrastructure: The article provides a precise, quantifiable indicator of the project’s scale: “a massive 1 gigawatt (GW) / 4 gigawatt-hour (GWh) project.” This directly measures the new capacity being added to support renewable energy and grid stability.
• Investment in clean energy technology: While a specific monetary value is not given, the description of the project as “Europe’s largest battery storage system” implies a significant financial investment, serving as a qualitative indicator of progress towards promoting clean energy infrastructure (Target 7.a).
• Deployment of advanced energy solutions: The mention of “Fluence’s Smartstack technology, its latest large-scale energy storage solution,” serves as an indicator of the adoption of innovative and cutting-edge technologies to modernize infrastructure (Target 9.4).
• Transition in energy production in specific regions: The fact that the project is being built in “one of Europe’s most coal-heavy regions” is a specific geographical indicator of the progress being made in phasing out fossil fuels and implementing climate action strategies (Target 13.2).

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: electrek.co