Germany Fears Battery Boom Will Aggravate Power-Grid Congestion

Germany has touted the rollout of large batteries as key to the smooth running of a clean-energy grid. Yet there’s fear among government officials and transmission operators that building these in the wrong location will clog up the network if not properly managed.

The problem is underpinned by Germany’s growing — yet intermittent — slate of renewables. Take a weekday evening in winter: Strong demand and no solar power will push up prices, prompting batteries to discharge. But wind generation may still be flowing in, overwhelming a grid that’s already full.