Mega battery in Marbach: Energy transition causes excitement!

Mega battery in Marbach: Energy transition causes excitement!

in Marbach, in the district of Ludwigsburg, the EnBW plans to build its largest power storage-a mega battery that causes excitement! The new facility is to be created in the southern part of the power plant area and has the potential to supply a small city with electricity for a whole day. With an impressive capacity of 100 megawatt hours, it could cover the need of around 12,500 households. But while the EnBW speaks of a significant step in the energy transition, the reactions in the municipality are mixed.

a major project with questions

The mega battery is not only intended for the local power supply, but is also intended to play a central role in the entire southern German power grid. Michael Class, head of portfolio development at EnBW, explains that the storage of energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar energy is becoming increasingly important to compensate for the weather-related fluctuations. The battery is equipped with lithium iron phosphate batteries that do without cobalt-a controversial material, the breakdown of which is often associated with child labor.

But not everyone is enthusiastic about the news. Marbach's mayor Jan Trost is surprised that the plans have already become public without being discussed in the city's political bodies. "We are surprised by this," says Trost, making it clear that the keeping of the city councils on this topic is still unclear. EnBW assures that they want to inform the local citizens and have discussions with the city and the approval authorities. The construction is scheduled to begin next year, with a planned commissioning until the end of 2025. The tension in Marbach is increasing-will this mega project bring the hoped-for turn or will it remain a controversial project?