At the Bochum location, the food logistics company has put into operation an innovative battery storage system by the Austrian manufacturer CellCube. According to the company's own reports, the new storage system complements the largest rooftop photovoltaic system in the Ruhr area, which is also located at the Bochum site, and is intended to increase the self-consumption rate of the generated electricity.
Previously, around 40 to 50 percent of the solar energy from the photovoltaic system could not be used directly and was fed into the public grid. With the new electricity storage, these surpluses can now be efficiently stored and used directly on site as needed.
Supply Security for Food LogisticsAccording to the logistics company, self-consumption of electricity can save up to 450,000 euros in electricity costs per year. The electricity is then used to power cooling systems, charge electric trucks and warehouse equipment, and avoid peak electricity loads throughout the day. Carsten
Taucke, CEO of the Nagel-Group:
"The new battery storage is another important component of our sustainability strategy. It not only allows us to use renewable energy more efficiently but also to further strengthen the supply security for our temperature-controlled processes."
The CellCube storage technology offers several benefits for food logistics. With a storage capacity of 2.5 MWh and a maximum power output of 500 kW, the deployed battery storage reliably provides energy, even at night or on days with low solar radiation.
This is particularly advantageous in the area of temperature-controlled logistics processes because in the event of a short-term grid interruption, the storage can step in and secure the power supply for critical cooling systems. This means it also functions as a temporary backup power source.
Managing Peak LoadsAccording to the Nagel-Group, another advantage lies in intelligent peak load management. In food logistics, fluctuating energy demands frequently occur, such as when multiple electric
trucks are charged simultaneously. The electricity storage can mitigate these peak loads with a power intake of up to 666 kW, as the vanadium flow technology is based on non-flammable, water-based electrolytes, which operate safely even at extreme temperatures between minus 40 and plus 45 degrees Celsius.
At the same time, the system impresses with its long life span of over 30 years and more than 30,000 charging cycles. This means for the logistics company that the full storage capacity is maintained throughout its entire life span. By using self-generated electricity from the photovoltaic system, electricity procurement costs at the Bochum site can be reduced by around 450,000 euros annually.
Sustainability Consistently EnvisionedAndré Pleines, Executive Director Real Estate of the Nagel-Group:
"With the CellCube system, we are opting for a storage solution that optimally meets the requirements of our logistics centers: robust, low-maintenance, and economically scalable. The technology seamlessly integrates into our existing infrastructure
and helps us make our energy supply more independent and sustainable in the long term."
The sustainability of the storage solution is evident not only in its operation but begins with its production. The vanadium electrolyte used is obtained from recycled raw materials such as by-products of the steel industry. It is non-flammable, non-explosive, reusable, and contains no rare earths, an environmental advantage over conventional battery systems. Christoph Stelzer, COO of CellCube Energy Storage GmbH:
"With the Nagel-Group, we gain a forward-thinking partner that demonstrates how sustainable energy storage and business-critical applications like cold chain logistics can work excellently together. Our vanadium technology offers the necessary security, longevity, and scalability for this."
The Bochum location is intended to serve as a pilot project for the integration of electricity storage in food logistics, it is said. Further logistics centers of the Nagel-Group, including in Hamburg, are already in the concrete planning phase for the implementation
