Munich. On Monday, Bayernwerk Netz GmbH and the Traunstein-based general contractor MaxSolar GmbH signed a service agreement for the operation of Germany’s first grid-supportive battery storage system operated by a distribution system operator. With the completion of the tender process, the awarding of the contract, and the signing of the agreement, the path is now clear for the construction of this prototype in Wutzldorf (Cham district).
Bayernwerk Netz GmbH – part of the E.ON Group – will thus become the first distribution system operator in Germany to integrate a grid-supportive battery storage system into its network. After successful coordination with the Federal Network Agency last year and the completion of a competitive tender process between January and March 2025, in which over 100 bidders participated, MaxSolar GmbH was awarded the contract. The corresponding service agreement has now been signed in Munich.
“Today is not only a major milestone for MaxSolar and Bayernwerk, but also for the future of our energy system. With the newly developed logic of grid-supportive storage, we are maximizing the economic value of both the electricity market and the grid for our network customers. This marks the beginning of a new phase in the integration of large-scale batteries into the power supply system,” says Dr. Nick Seeger, Managing Director of Bayernwerk Netz.
Under the service agreement, MaxSolar will operate a 5-megawatt large-scale battery with an available storage capacity of 25 megawatt-hours throughout the contract period. The operation will follow defined seasonal and daily schedules designed to relieve the grid during periods of high demand or production. For example, the battery will be charged during times of high solar generation and discharged during periods of high grid demand.
MaxSolar is already in close dialogue with the municipality of Wutzldorf and will now proceed with detailed construction planning.
“This step is a milestone for the energy transition and demonstrates how innovative storage technologies can actively contribute to the stabilization and optimization of our grids. We are excited to realize this pioneering project in Wutzldorf together with Bayernwerk Netz GmbH. With this grid-supportive storage system, we are setting a strong example for the efficient use of renewable energy and the long-term stability of our energy supply,” says Christoph Strasser, Managing Director of MaxSolar GmbH.
Faster and More Cost-effective than Grid Expansion in Some Cases
According to Bayernwerk Netz, the grid-supportive operation of battery storage systems offers a promising solution to manage high grid loads during peak periods of renewable generation. This reduces the need for costly and time-consuming grid expansion and accelerates the energy system transformation. Ultimately, this benefits all Bayernwerk Netz customers.
By defining battery usage directly, the distribution system operator can leverage flexibility to resolve local grid bottlenecks. Storing surplus energy during feed-in peaks allows additional generation plants to be integrated without the need for further grid reinforcement. Moreover, storage improves grid quality by reducing voltage fluctuations.
The high level of participation in the tender and the economically viable service fees demonstrate that the market is ready to meet such requirements. Bayernwerk is now using insights gained from this pilot project to identify and tender additional suitable locations for further grid-supportive battery storage systems. While construction planning for the first site is underway, additional tenders will be issued for new projects in parallel.
About Bayernwerk Netz GmbH
For over 100 years, the name Bayernwerk has stood for reliable energy supply in Bavaria. As a distribution system operator, Bayernwerk Netz GmbH plays a key role in this effort. To ensure that more and more energy from renewable sources is available now and in the future, the company relies on digitalization and innovation, supports numerous research initiatives, and is systematically expanding its energy networks.
Bayernwerk Netz supplies around seven million people with energy in the Bavarian regions of Lower and Upper Franconia, the Upper Palatinate, and Lower and Upper Bavaria – making it the largest regional distribution system operator in Bavaria. The electricity grid spans 156,000 kilometers, the gas network 6,000 kilometers, and the street lighting network 34,600 kilometers.
Around 75 percent of the electricity distributed through its grid comes from renewable sources. More than 550,000 decentralized generation systems feed green electricity into the Bayernwerk grid. The company also supplies customers in northern and eastern Bavaria via its natural gas network. Bayernwerk Netz GmbH is present at more than 20 locations throughout the state. It is headquartered in Regensburg and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayernwerk AG.
About MaxSolar GmbH:
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Traunstein, MaxSolar GmbH develops cross-sector energy concepts covering the entire value chain of renewable energy—from development, planning, and installation to operation. By combining photovoltaics, wind power, storage solutions, e-mobility, and heat supply, MaxSolar creates innovative concepts that intelligently interconnect all sectors. The company also offers its customers Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for long-term, reliable access to green electricity. With a project pipeline of 7.6 gigawatts, five locations, and nearly 370 employees, MaxSolar is active throughout Germany.
www.maxsolar.com
Pressekontakt:
Verena Steindl
Marketing & Communications
MaxSolar GmbH
Tel.: +49 861 21396 621
E-Mail: verena.steindl(at)maxsolar.de
