SMA Altenso Powers German Battery Megaproject With 110 kV Transformer Infrastructure
SMA Altenso has commissioned a large-scale battery energy storage system in Metelen, North Rhine-Westphalia, for asset manager MEAG, highlighting the critical role of high-voltage transformer technology in modern grid infrastructure.
At the core of the Battery Park Metelen is a 110 kV substation equipped with a 100-ton high-voltage transformer, serving as the primary interface between the battery system and the transmission grid. The transformer enables efficient voltage step-up and stable power delivery, allowing the 92.5 MW / 231 MWh facility to operate across balancing, frequency regulation, and energy trading markets.
The project, delivered by SMA Altenso as EPC contractor, integrates 31 medium-voltage power stations and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery platforms, all coordinated through advanced control systems. However, the transformer system remains the central enabling component, ensuring that fluctuating battery output is converted into grid-compliant transmission-level power.
According to Wiebke Krüger, Head of Operations at SMA Altenso, large-scale storage systems depend on robust electrical infrastructure to maintain stability and integrate renewable energy efficiently.
Ownership of the asset has been transferred to MEAG, while SMA Altenso continues to provide operations and maintenance services.
A second project in Höxter is also under development, featuring expanded capacity and dual high-voltage grid connections, further reinforcing the importance of transformer-based grid integration in next-generation storage systems.
The Metelen installation demonstrates how high-voltage transformer engineering is becoming a defining element in scaling battery storage for transmission-level applications.
Source: solarquarter.com
