The project “carries historical significance,” says Merus, as Fingrid published its first requirements for grid-forming functionality only in summer 2023. Merus Power developed the technology and brought it into commercial use in just two years. “This project strengthens our position as a significant European energy storage provider and
supports our strategic goal of building a more sustainable and secure energy system,” said Kari Tuomala, CEO of Merus Power. It is also Alpiq’s first grid-forming energy storage system, which it sees as strengthening its position as a provider of flexible energy solutions in the European power market.
Alpiq’s grid forming energy storage system, Valkeakoski, Finland, supplied by Merus Power. Photo: Merus Power
Transformer failure at Waratah
Waratah Super Battery, 850 MW/1680 MWh. At full capacity it would be the world’s most powerful battery in operation
Developed by Akaysha Energy under contract to Energy Corporation of NSW, it is located about 100 km north of Sydney and some 25 km south of the retiring Eraring coal-fired power station.
Project partners include: Powin for battery hardware and software; Consolidated Power Projects for EPC; EKS (now part of Hitachi Energy) for power conversion systems; and Wilson Transformer Company for power transformers. Photo: Akaysha Energy
On 18 October 2025 the Waratah Super Battery – at 850 MW/1680 MWh, one of the world’s largest – currently under commissioning, suffered a loss of capacity due to the failure of HVT3, one of three high voltage transformers. The incident occurred four hours from completion of Hold Point 5 testing, the final Hold Point required to transition the battery to full capacity. Safety assessments were immediately conducted and as a precaution, a second high voltage transformer (HVT2) was de-energised. Throughout the incident and since, despite the loss of HVT3 and the de-energising of HVT2, the Waratah Super Battery has met its System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS) grid obligations, maintaining secure capacity of 350 MW with just one transformer, HVT1, operable. The two de-energised transformers are undergoing detailed engineering assessments and investigations as part of a root cause analysis, “a complex, multi-stage process involving physical inspection, testing and analysis.”
GigaBattery Boxberg 400
HyperStrong International (Germany) GmbH, a subsidiary of Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co, and LEAG Clean Power GmbH, have signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract that will see deployment of a 400 MW/1.6 GWh utility-scale battery energy storage system project in Germany. Once completed, this project will become one of the largest battery storage facilities in Europe, say its developers. The new project, GigaBattery Boxberg 400, will form part of LEAG’s GigawattFactory concept – an integrated renewable energy hub combining photovoltaic and wind generation with flexible storage and hydrogen-ready power plants. The Boxberg project will adopt HyperStrong’s 4-hour energy storage system, based on its proven HyperBlock III technology, which is described as a “mature, field-verified utility-scale storage product designed for stable operation under diverse climatic conditions.” The system is said to combine “liquid cooling technology, intelligent energy management, and superior safety performance” thus “making it ideal for grid-scale applications in Europe’s variable energy environment,” says HyperStrong. “With this project, we continue to accelerate our GigawattFactory strategy and expand the foundation for a carbon-neutral energy system,”
said Adi Roesch, CEO of LEAG Group. “Battery energy storage plays a crucial role in balancing renewable fluctuations and ensuring energy remains available when it is needed. Working with a technology-driven partner like HyperStrong enables us to deliver on this vision efficiently and at scale.”
HyperStrong, with its EMEA regional headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, is a Tier-1 global energy storage solution provider with extensive project experience across utility-scale and commercial & industrial applications. The company has deployed over 45 GWh of energy storage systems worldwide across more than 400 projects – offering high efficiency, safety, and reliability for BESS applications. For this project, HyperStrong will serve as the EPC contractor, covering engineering design, equipment supply, system integration, commissioning, grid connection, and long-term operation support.
The co-operation between HyperStrong and LEAG Clean Power is part of a broader effort to expand large-scale energy storage capacity in Germany, with the German government reaffirming the strategic importance of storage systems for achieving a secure, affordable, and sustainable electricity system.
“This partnership brings together
complementary strengths – the energy expertise of LEAG Clean Power and HyperStrong’s approach to ensure high technical availability and efficiency,” said Thomas Brandenburg, CEO of LEAG Clean Power GmbH. “The project will set a new milestone for battery storage deployment in Europe and demonstrates the growing importance of global collaboration in achieving energy transition goals.”
Visualisation of GigaBattery Boxberg 400. Image: HyperStrong/LEAG Clean Power
www.modernpowersystems.com | November/December 2025 | 45
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