Large-scale battery storage projects often begin with a marked field on a digital land registry map. Whether this potential site is actually suitable only becomes clear after a more detailed examination: How far away is the nearest substation? What route would the cable line take? What is the soil composition? What ecological functions does the area fulfill?
Large-scale battery storage systems draw electricity from the grid, store it, and release it later, providing flexibility for a power system with increasing shares of renewable energy. As technical infrastructure, they require land for construction and can impact nature and the landscape. Therefore, the expected impacts and how to manage them must be investigated at an early stage.
At Kyon Energy, this assessment begins during the site development phase. It ranges from preliminary ecological surveys and expert reports to the permitting process and supervision of the construction phase. Legal requirements and local conditions determine which interventions can be avoided, how unavoidable impacts must be compensated, and whether additional ecological measures are beneficial.
Sections 14 and 15 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act form the central legal framework for interventions in nature and the landscape. Interventions are defined as changes to the shape or use of land that could significantly impair the performance and functionality of the natural balance or the appearance of the landscape.
The resulting regulatory framework sets out a clear sequence. First, avoidable impacts must be prevented. If impacts cannot be completely avoided, they must be compensated for through mitigation or replacement measures. In addition, specific state-level regulations apply, which further define the procedure and assessment criteria.
For the permitting process, the relevant protected assets at the site are examined. These include soil, water, biotopes, plant and animal species, climate and air, as well as the landscape. Based on this, the necessary protection, avoidance, and compensation measures are determined. The responsible environmental and nature conservation authorities are involved in the coordination process.
Germany has state-specific assessment systems used to record and plan interventions and compensation. These make the scope of measures transparent. The individual case remains decisive: the assessment of an area and the selection of suitable measures are based on its specific ecological functions.
Large-scale battery storage systems bundle high power and storage capacity in a relatively compact area. The system components generally reach a height of about three meters. This allows them to be integrated into the landscape using site-appropriate hedges and shrubs, provided this is included in the respective site concept.
Proximity to the grid connection point plays a central role. Short connections to the substation limit the need for additional cable routes. This reduces excavation work and the use of further land. For Kyon Energy’s Mehringen project in Lower Saxony, the site was chosen directly at the substation. This proximity was also a key criterion for site selection for the Schobüll project in Schleswig-Holstein.
The foundation method for the system components is planned separately for each site. Since they are built on individual foundation pads, the entire project area is not sealed. The actual land usage depends on the system layout, foundation type, and site conditions. If soil conditions and structural requirements allow, screw pile foundations can be used in addition to reinforced concrete strip and pad foundations. This reduces the amount of concrete required compared to conventional foundation solutions.
Protection measures from investigation to construction
Before construction begins, preliminary ecological surveys and nature conservation assessments determine which protection measures are required at the site. Depending on the location, this includes biotope mapping, the recording of all specially and strictly protected species, and the preparation of nature conservation reports. In addition to reducing the built-up area, further avoidance measures are implemented, such as adjusting construction schedules to account for the breeding activities of birds.
In Mehringen, site clearance was ecologically supervised by external specialist companies. An old oak tree along the access road was preserved and protected during the work. The planning also took into account breeding seasons and the potential presence of sensitive species.
For the Husum project in North Frisia, protected and sensitive areas along the route were examined and protected from significant impairment by adjusting the planning. Bird surveys conducted before the start of construction were used to identify potential nesting sites and integrate the resulting protection requirements into the construction process.
For the Schobüll battery storage project, the proximity to the substation and the landscape integration of the site were also considered together. The choice of the area limited the need for cable routes, and landscaping supports the integration of the facility into its surroundings.
Environmental requirements are professionally monitored during the construction phase. If stipulated by the permit and the action plan, maintenance and performance monitoring will follow.
For unavoidable impacts, compensatory or replacement measures are defined. Kyon Energy assesses whether real compensation in the immediate vicinity of the project is feasible and technically appropriate. For example, peripheral areas or remaining land sections can be enhanced with native shrubs or species-rich borders. Such measures must be suitable for the site and secured for the long term.
Beyond mandatory requirements, Kyon Energy evaluates additional measures for individual projects, provided they have a clear connection to the local context. These measures do not replace legally required compensation or species protection assessments. However, they can supplement structures that are missing or could be improved in the area surrounding a facility.
For the Dahlem project in the Eifel region, a portion of the site is planned to remain undeveloped. The goal is to connect two sections of an SAC (Special Area of Conservation)—which, among other things, provides a habitat for butterflies and moths—via a designated flight corridor. Such corridors can help facilitate the exchange between populations and maintain the ecological connectivity of habitats.
In Schobüll, brushwood piles and fallen logs complement the landscaping. These structures can provide shelter and overwintering opportunities for insects and small animals. Hedges can integrate the facility into the landscape and, depending on their design and maintenance, create cover and food sources for birds and insects.
As part of TotalEnergies, Kyon Energy integrates nature and species conservation into a group-wide sustainability approach. Biodiversity is increasingly being systematically recorded and included in sustainability reporting. The goal is to document measures and their progress in a transparent manner.
For Kyon Energy’s project development, this means examining the ecological baseline of a site at an early stage and tailoring appropriate measures to local conditions. Where additional enhancements are implemented beyond legal requirements, they should make a tangible contribution to the ecological development of the site.
Large-scale battery storage systems can make a significant contribution to a more flexible power system with a minimal land footprint. Nevertheless, every project changes its site and must therefore be professionally assessed.
Kyon Energy follows a clear hierarchy:
Nature conservation is therefore not an afterthought. It is an integral part of the planning, permitting, implementation, and maintenance of battery storage projects.
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