Vattenfall is filling up the biggest heat storage facility in Germany

45 meters high, 43 meters in diameter, 56 million liters in capacity – these are the dimensions of Germany’s largest heat storage facility. It is scheduled to go into operation at the beginning of next year on the Vattenfall site at Reuter West in Berlin. It is expected to take up to two months to fill the imposing hot water tank with a volume of around 350,000 bathtubs, states Vattenfall in a press release.

In April 2023, Germany’s largest heat storage facility with a capacity of 56 million liters will begin commercial operation. It will store district heating water at a temperature of 98 degrees Celsius and thus play a key role in advancing the heat and energy transition and increasing energy security in Germany. Together with the power-to-heat plant adjacent to the power plant site, which is the largest in Europe, the storage facility will enable the use of surplus renewable energy from the grid.

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Challenge

Last week, Vattenfall Wärme will begin the initial filling of the storage facility. The continuous provision of such large quantities of district heating water represents a new challenge. Unlike in the bathroom at home, the water tap cannot simply be turned on. Comparable to distilled water for the iron, we first need special water. This water is partially desalinated and degassed to reduce wear and tear in Berlin’s municipal heating network.
Initial filling will take around two months. During this time, the foundation of the heat storage tank will sink by a total of around 6 centimeters due to the heavy weight. Following this, the first commissioning activities will begin with the start of trial runs.