Germany detonates dead nuclear plant to resurrect 700 MWh battery

The former Gundremmingen nuclear power plant in Germany has been demolished, with its two cooling towers successfully detonated using around 600 kilograms of explosives. The site is now being repurposed for a major energy project led by RWE, which has begun construction on a 700 MWh battery storage facility. This system will consist of over 200 containers housing approximately 850,000 lithium iron phosphate battery cells, connected to more than 100 inverters capable of rapid grid response. The battery is designed to provide up to 400 MW of power continuously for nearly two hours, stabilizing the grid during periods without wind or solar energy. The facility is expected to become operational by early 2028 and will leverage the existing high-capacity grid connection from the former nuclear plant. This battery project is part of a broader redevelopment plan for the Gundremmingen site, which also includes the construction of a 55-hectare photovoltaic plant and a new gas-fired power plant. RWE is