Joint Press Release
September 8, 2016
An Important Step for the German Energy Transformation:
The M5BAT modular battery storage system is put into operation in Aachen
• “M5BAT” (Modular Multi-Megawatt Multi-Technology Medium-Voltage Battery Storage System)
• Technical suitability and commercial use tests on the storage batteries provide valuable findings
for the energy system
• Innovative technology to store energy promotes system stability during the ongoing energy
transformation
After a full year of construction, the M5BAT modular large-scale battery storage system was put
into operation in Aachen today. Prof. Dirk Uwe Sauer of the Institute for Power Generation and
Storage Systems (PGS) at RWTH Aachen University, director of the project and M5BAT
operations, said regarding the significance of the project for energy research: “From day one, we
have intensely and individually monitored more than 25,000 battery cells in six strings of different
lithium-ion battery technologies and four strings of different lead batteries. This will allow us to
gather valuable information on aging, reliability, and service life. At the same time, we want to use
intelligent battery management to show how overall operations can be optimized with a hybrid
system using different technologies.”
The energy storage system is located next to a transformer and RWTH Aachen University
research centers. The fully-automated operations will be monitored and operated via a remote
control system from Uniper SE for the purposes of energy trading, and the battery storage system
will be used in various markets for research purposes, for example to provide primary control
power. Eckhardt Rümmler, who is Uniper’s Chief Operating Officer and, among other things,
responsible for new technologies, emphasized the role of storage systems in the future: “M5BAT
will allow us to test the possibility of using a combination of different battery technologies in a real
network and on the market. This storage system has already been incorporated into Uniper‘s
trading business, and will soon deliver important findings regarding the development of business
models based on decentralized storage systems. Energy storage systems are important if energy
transformation is to be a success. They contribute greater flexibility and stability to energy
systems. They are thus essential for a low-carbon energy supply based on renewable energies.”
The unique feature of M5BAT is the five different battery technologies it uses. Prof. Dr. Rik W. De
Doncker, Director of the Sustainable Energy Cluster at RWTH Aachen University said regarding
the opportunities M5BAT offers: “The commissioning of the M5BAT battery storage system is a
milestone in RWTH Aachen University’s energy storage research. Now that operation has
started, we expect interesting new findings regarding the economic and technical characteristics
of battery storage systems. We plan to use these research results to improve economic feasibility
and, so, effectively promote the introduction of battery storage systems onto the market.”
Several partners are implementing this project. Uniper is responsible for modifying the building
and fitting it with the technical equipment, as well as for trading with the battery storage system
on the energy market. Exide Technologies is responsible for the lead-acid battery strings, and
SMA will install its special, newly developed inverters. In addition, various types of lithium-ion
batteries will be employed. The PGS and the Institute of Power Systems and Power Economics
(IAEW) at RWTH Aachen University are responsible for the scientific research, operation, and
tests.
Dr. Rainer Bußar, Director of Industrial Batteries / R&D Europe at Exide Technologies,
commented on the potential of lead batteries in large-scale storage networks: “In stationary
applications, where size and weight matter less than they do in mobile applications, lead batteries
represent an interesting technological alternative to finite lithium resources. Two of the five
M5BAT lead battery strings will undergo direct technology comparison tests in the field.”
Volker Wachenfeld, Executive Vice President / Head of Business Unit Off-Grid and Storage at
SMA Solar Technology AG, whose company will connect 10 of its inverters to the grid, stated the
following: “The intelligent and dynamic integration of larger-scale storage systems into the grid is
of fundamental importance for a 100% renewable energy supply. SMA Solar Technology AG’s
flexible, modular, and efficient battery inverter system technology meets the requirements to do
this and offers solutions that will allow operators to use energy storage systems in innovative
business models in the future.”
Battery storage systems will play an important role in energy systems as short-term compensation for fluctuations in renewable power input. For this reason, M5BAT received a total of EUR
6.7 million from the “Energy Storage Funding Initiative” of the German Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Energy. In June of this year, the KlimaExpo.NRW also recognized M5BAT
as a project of special significance for climate protection.
Your contact for all questions:
Uniper SE
Sabine Meixner
+49 2 11-45 79-4 72
[email protected]
RWTH Aachen University
Dr. Sabine Vogel
+49 241-80-49667
[email protected]
Portraits of the participating partners
Uniper:
Uniper is an international energy company that operates in Europe, Russia, and numerous other
markets across the world. With its well-balanced portfolio of energy plants and its ability to
combine technical and business skills with a broad range of trading activities, Uniper creates links
between the world’s energy markets. It participates in research projects in the areas of energy
storage, tomorrow’s power stations, and alternative mobility concepts. It operates “power-to-gas”
pilot plants in Falkenhagen (Brandenburg) and in Hamburg-Reitbrook, and the first LNG fueling
station for trucks in Germany.
E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University:
The Institute for Power Generation and Storage Systems (PGS), headed by Prof. De Doncker
and Prof. Sauer, and the Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate (EBC),
headed by Prof. Müller of RWTH Aachen University, bring their skills in the areas of battery
systems technology and power electronics (PGS) and energy-efficient buildings (EBC) to the
project. PGS has taken over overall project management, the development of an energy
management system and the control technology, and the operation of the battery storage system.
It is also conducting battery aging studies and analyzing the potential to optimize battery storage
systems technically and economically. EBC is conducting thermal monitoring and simulations of
the battery storage system.
IAEW, RWTH Aachen:
In cooperation with Uniper, the Institute of Power Systems and Power Economics (IAEW),
headed by Prof. Moser, will investigate and test various marketing models for storage batteries.
Exide Technologies:
Exide Technologies operates in more than 80 countries, is one of the world’s largest
manufacturers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries, and offers a broad range of electrical energy
storage solutions tailored to its customers. With over 120 years of experience in developing
innovative technologies, Exide Technologies is a valued partner for OEMs and serves the
industry and automobile applications aftermarket. GNB Industrial Power, a division of Exide
Technologies, offers an extensive range of storage products and services, including applications
for telecommunications systems, rail transport, mining, photovoltaic (solar electricity) systems,
uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems, energy supply and distribution, and forklifts and
electric vehicles.
SMA:
The SMA Group generated sales of over EUR 800 million in 2014. It is the global market leader
for solar inverters, a key component of all PV plants, and offers innovative key technologies for
future power supply structures. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, and is represented
internationally in 21 countries. The Group employs more than 4,500 people worldwide. SMA’s
broad product portfolio includes a compatible inverter for every type of module on the market and
for all plant sizes. The product range includes both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to
the grid as well as inverters for off-grid and hybrid systems. Its technology is protected by over
550 patents, and its product catalogue is complemented by a wide range of services and the
operational management of large-scale solar power plants. Since 2008, the Group’s parent
company, SMA Solar Technology AG, has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt
Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by the Uniper SE
Management and other information currently available to Uniper. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of
the company and the estimates given here. Uniper SE does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update
these forward-looking statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.