Germany has launched what it claims is Europe’s first and largest commercial battery facility that will store renewable power.
Wemag AG has connected the 5MW plant – enough to power around 2,500 homes – to the grid and aims to integrate a growing share of solar and wind energy into the network.
The installation cost €6 million (£4.7m) and is the size of a school gymnasium, the company said.
Germany’s Energy and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said: “The first commercially operating battery storage plant of this size is an important step to realise the German energy switch.”
The nation currently produces around 25% of its energy from green sources.