Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB Power Purchase Agreement
First agri-PV system in the BatteryCityMünster supplies green electricity for the Fraunhofer battery cell factory
For the operation of the first research factory, the “FFB PreFab”, the Fraunhofer FFB has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the "Stadtwerke Münster". Starting November 1, 2025, the municipal utility company will supply 6.36 gigawatt hours of regional green electricity annually via a direct connection to the Fraunhofer FFB. The electricity will come from the first agri-photovoltaic system in Münster, which is being built southwest of the Amelsbüren district in Hartmannsbrock Street.
Münster, Germany. A successful energy transition requires innovative solutions to sustainably secure the electricity demand, particularly for battery cell production. One option could be to use land for both photovoltaics and agriculture. The agri-PV system has a capacity of 4.86 megawatts. It is being built near the Fraunhofer FFB. It is intended to cover 40 percent of the electricity needed to operate the first construction phase of the Fraunhofer FFB – the so-called “FFB PreFab”.
“The purchase agreement with Stadtwerke Münster for green electricity ensures that the entire battery supply chain at our location is sustainable and future-oriented,” says Professor Simon Lux, managing director of the Fraunhofer FFB.
“Our cooperation with the Fraunhofer FFB for an electricity supply contract is a good example of how Münster benefits from the expansion of renewable energies: companies purchase sustainable electricity at stable prices, agriculture can use land even more efficiently, and citizens benefit from lower greenhouse gas emissions and more jobs through a strong economy. Together we are driving the energy transition forward,” emphasizes Sebastian Jurczyk, managing director of Stadtwerke Münster.
Energy demand of the battery cell factory and the use of renewable energies
The production of battery cells is energy-intensive. With today's know-how and state of production technology, a battery cell factory consumes 20-40 kWh of energy to produce 1 kWh of battery cell capacity. The annual electricity requirement for the “FFB PreFab” will be around 8 gigawatt hours. To meet this demand, the Fraunhofer FFB is already relying on its electricity production through a roof-mounted PV system and is already using efficient drying technologies and a combined heat pump. “Purchasing green electricity from the agrivoltaic system is another effective way to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our battery research factory,” Lux continues.
First agri-PV system in Münster
The agri-PV system will be built on a total area of 13.2 hectares. Agricultural use will take place between the solar modules, with the system being constructed using a ground-level elevation. The agri-PV system is designed as a so-called tracking PV system. The solar modules are optimally aligned with the sun at any time of day using sensors, thus promising a maximum solar yield. The plant construction covers only about 7.5 percent of the agricultural area, which can be used for the further cultivation of grain, rapeseed, and field beans. The green electricity generated is fed directly to the “FFB PreFab” via a cable laid under the Dortmund-Ems Canal and consumed on-site.
The long-term purchase of the green electricity generated ensures the economic operation of the agri-PV system and guarantees the Fraunhofer FFB stable, calculable energy costs. This also makes it possible to dispense with the EEG feed-in tariff for the system. The dual use of arable land also strengthens resilience and climate protection in agriculture and ensures a regional and secure energy supply in a region dominated by agriculture.
Model character of the project
For the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the conclusion of the long-term power supply contract between the Fraunhofer FFB and the municipal utilities of Münster is a model. This is the first time that a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has been concluded within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. “By working closely with Stadtwerke Münster, we are demonstrating how joint action by public research institutions and municipal utilities can accelerate the transition to a climate-friendly energy supply,” says Jonas Finn Kutschmann, research associate in the Energy Technology group at Fraunhofer FFB. The pilot project serves as a model for other Fraunhofer institutes and other public sector institutions.
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