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In short:
Brietlingen (Lower Saxony), May 8 2026 - Return, an independent European provider of energy storage solutions, marked the start of construction on its battery storage project in Brietlingen, around 60 kilometers southeast of Hamburg, on Friday 8 May. The facility is expected to become operational in November 2026.
The facility will help balance the electricity grid by storing excess wind and solar energy and making it available when demand rises, delivering 13 megawatts of power and 29 megawatt-hours of storage capacity.
From groundwork to delivery: facility taking shape
Work on site has progressed in phases: medium-voltage cable installation began on February 23, construction of the access road started in March and main construction works commenced in early April. The site is now ready for the delivery of prefabricated foundations and battery units in May and June.
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“The Brietlingen site is an important milestone for our activities in northern Germany,” says Jens Peters, at Return Germany. “The strong cooperation with the municipality, which is actively supporting the energy transition, has been a key factor in moving this forward. Together with additional facilities currently under development across Germany, we are continuing to expand battery storage capacity nationwide.”
Mayor Helmut Kowalik adds: “With this project, Brietlingen is helping shape the energy transition locally. We are strengthening the region’s infrastructure while contributing to a more sustainable and reliable energy supply.”
Focus on safety, noise protection and landscape integration
Potential impacts on the surrounding area were considered early in the planning process, particularly regarding noise and operational safety.
“These are important topics for local residents and for us as project owner,” says Peters. “That is why the site includes detailed noise assessments and a comprehensive fire protection concept developed in close coordination with the relevant authorities.”
Arne Westphal, landowner of the project site and fire chief of the Scharnebeck collective municipality, adds: “Safety has been a priority from the outset. There has been close coordination with the project team throughout the planning process to ensure the facility can operate safely and reliably.”
To integrate the facility into the surrounding landscape, 2.8-meter privacy hedges will be planted around the site.
Alongside supporting grid stability and renewable energy integration, the project is also expected to contribute to the local economy through additional business tax revenues.
About Return
Return is an independent energy storage provider helping Europe build a more connected and resilient energy system. Through intelligent storage networks and customer-focused services, Return connects renewable generation, utilities and large energy users - making clean energy work for everyone. By aligning interests and improving partner performance, Return enables flexible, reliable access to renewable power while easing grid congestion and supporting Europe’s path to net zero. With an active development portfolio of over 8 GW and plans to deliver around 5GW of capacity by 2030, Return continues to strengthen grid stability and reduce dependence on fossil fuels across key European markets.
