Energy transition

The Jänschwalde Innovative Storage Power Plant

Technology combinations such as the Innovative Storage Power Plant (ISPP) in Jänschwalde describe the path to an up to 100 percent renewable and climate-neutral energy supply that is secured around the clock. The Innovative Storage Power Plant is an important signal for Lusatia to develop sustainable and future-oriented energy and industrial sites here. Beyond the region, it can become a blueprint for flexible future power plants in the energy transition.

Transformation through technology

In a broader sense, the Jänschwalde site includes the current lignite-fired power plant, neighbouring industrial areas and the Jänschwalde opencast mine. In the coming years, wind and photovoltaic plants of our green GigawattFactory will be built on the former mining areas. Thus, we are making a significant contribution to achieving the expansion targets for renewable energies in Germany. The gap that renewables cannot yet close in meeting electricity demand must be covered by other power generation. This makes Jänschwalde a perfect location for the Innovative Storage Power Plant. We combine conventional with renewable technologies, storage capacities and hydrogen.

The Innovative Storage Power Plant includes a modern, hydrogen-capable gas and steam turbine plant (CCGT). Here, natural gas as well as green hydrogen and green heat can be used to secure the power supply. We want to produce climate-neutral green hydrogen at the site, too. If there is more solar and wind power available than is currently needed, we use it for electrolysis and store the hydrogen produced. In addition, there are thermal storage capacities in which renewable electricity surpluses can be stored as heat. The Jänschwalde ISPP is thus able to provide secure power on an industrial scale, also on the basis of CO2-free electricity generation.

Contribution to security of supply

Overarching goals of the Jänschwalde Innovative Storage Power Plant:

  • closing supply gaps after the coal phase-out and during the transformation of the energy system
  • smooth out fluctuations in electricity generation from renewable energies
  • store and use surpluses of solar and wind power for continuous secure supply

We are aiming for a continuous reduction of CO2 emissions and want to be able to produce climate-neutral electricity at a site where lignite has been used to generate electricity for decades. The Jänschwalde ISPP also builds a bridge between the electricity industry and other sectors such as heating, transport and industry. Their demand for green energy and green gases is also increasing (sector coupling). The Storage Power Plant has a modular design for this purpose.

Flexible, secured performance combined ...

  • with green electricity for feeding into the electricity grid, supplying companies or producing green hydrogen.
  • with green heat from electro-thermal storage units for the operation of the steam turbine and for optional feed-in to district heating grids
  • with green hydrogen for the gradual fuel change of the gas turbine, feeding into the natural gas grid or a future hydrogen grid and supplying industries (e.g. green steel, synthetic fuels) and mobility (e.g. H2 filling stations)

Project status and technical concept

The approval process for the complex project has started with the scoping, which sets the framework for the assessment of environmental impacts, followed by the submission of the application to the responsible approval authority, the Brandenburg State Office for the Environment, in May 2023. We are aiming for commissioning at the end of the 2020s.

The basic prerequisites for project realisation include near-term connection to the natural gas transport infrastructure and a future hydrogen pipeline network, market and investment incentives as well as a suitable funding framework.

The modular structure at a glance

Module 1
CCGT Plant

gross capacity: approx. 900 MWel
efficiency: approx. 62 %
fuel requirement: approx. 1,400 MWth

Module 2
Electro-thermal energy storage

capacity: approx. 1,000 MWh
charging capacity: 100 MWel
charging time: 10 h
discharge capacity: approx. 135 MWth
discharge time: 7.5 h

Module 3
Electrolysis plant:

charging capacity: approx. 40 MWel
H2 production: 660 kg/h
H2 storage: 12 t
charging time: approx. 12 h
discharge time: approx. 8 h