Ionity says it plans to install 50 battery storage systems at charging parks next year, following a first installation in Wertheim, Baden-Württemberg. That system has helped the site grow from four charging points to six. The project shows how stored electricity can support expansion when a grid connection cannot yet provide more capacity.
What changed at the Wertheim site?
The charging park in Wertheim already had four charging points, and Ionity has now expanded it to six using battery storage. Each of the six operates with an Alpitronic HYC400 charging station, according to the source report. Two additional points are expected to follow soon, with an ABB charging station rated for peak power of 350 kW. The source does not say that those later points are already operating.
The installation is supplied by Sungrow and consists of four modular units. Together they have capacity of 1,028 kWh and maximum power output of 500 kW. Capacity describes the amount of energy the system can store, while power indicates the maximum rate at which it can deliver energy. The units sit in external switchgear cabinets at the charging park.
Why use a battery before a grid upgrade?
The storage system is intended to bridge the period before the medium-voltage grid connection is upgraded. Ionity says that upgrade can take up to three years. A battery lets the site draw on stored energy alongside the existing grid connection, helping make additional charging available before the grid work is complete. The source does not detail the exact operating schedule or how often the battery will be replenished.
Ionity says an intelligent energy management system is designed to distribute available power among the grid connection, battery storage and charging points. At busy times, the battery can provide additional charging power and reduce peak loads. This means storage has two stated roles: supporting extra charging and managing demand at the site. The company also sees a use for solar energy at parks fitted with PV.
Where does solar power fit?
A project in Hemsbach, Baden-Württemberg, is being developed as a new fast-charging park with a PV canopy and battery storage. Its PV system is expected to exceed 223 kWp, and its BESS is planned to have capacity above 2 MWh. Unlike the Wertheim installation, this project is intended to store locally generated solar power for later use in charging. The source presents the project as under development, without giving a completion date.
What is known about the wider rollout?
Ionity’s stated plan is to deploy 50 battery systems at selected charging parks next year. The company says the systems can improve use of available energy and enable additional charging points, but it has not named all planned sites in the available material. The source also does not specify the capacity or supplier for each future installation. Further details about locations, timing and the role of PV at individual parks remain to be announced.