Municipalities & Stadtwerke
Battery storage and data center sites: what your town can expect
BESSMART Energies develops battery storage and data center sites in Germany from site origination to ready-to-build. This page covers what your town gains, how a project runs, and how to reach us.
Municipalities & Stadtwerke
Battery storage and data center sites: what your town can expect
BESSMART Energies develops battery storage and data center sites in Germany from site origination to ready-to-build. This page covers what your town gains, how a project runs, and how to reach us.
Municipalities & Stadtwerke
Battery storage and data center sites: what your town can expect
BESSMART Energies develops battery storage and data center sites in Germany from site origination to ready-to-build. This page covers what your town gains, how a project runs, and how to reach us.
Who we are
A German developer, based in Berlin
Company
Bessmart Energies GmbH, founded 2023
Office
Rankestraße 26, 10789 Berlin
Managing directors
Andreas Knoll, Marco Northland
Commercial register
Charlottenburg local court, HRB 284337 B
Projects
All in Germany
Who we are
A German developer, based in Berlin
Company
Bessmart Energies GmbH, founded 2023
Office
Rankestraße 26, 10789 Berlin
Managing directors
Andreas Knoll, Marco Northland
Commercial register
Charlottenburg local court, HRB 284337 B
Projects
All in Germany
Who we are
A German developer, based in Berlin
Company
Bessmart Energies GmbH, founded 2023
Office
Rankestraße 26, 10789 Berlin
Managing directors
Andreas Knoll, Marco Northland
Commercial register
Charlottenburg local court, HRB 284337 B
Projects
All in Germany
Before BESSMART Energies, the founders developed over 1 GW of renewable energy projects in Europe, Japan and North and South America.
A German company, developing only in Germany. We size each project so the town gets the most from new energy and digital infrastructure, with the least impact on land, grid and neighbours.
Before BESSMART Energies, the founders developed over 1 GW of renewable energy projects in Europe, Japan and North and South America.
A German company, developing only in Germany. We size each project so the town gets the most from new energy and digital infrastructure, with the least impact on land, grid and neighbours.
Before BESSMART Energies, the founders developed over 1 GW of renewable energy projects in Europe, Japan and North and South America.
A German company, developing only in Germany. We size each project so the town gets the most from new energy and digital infrastructure, with the least impact on land, grid and neighbours.
Battery storage
Battery storage in your town
Battery storage
Battery storage in your town
Battery storage
Battery storage in your town
What your town gets
Topic
What your town gets
How it works
Trade tax
90% of the project’s trade tax
Each plant is run by its own project company. By law, a company that operates only storage plants pays 90% of its trade tax to the town where the plant stands, based on installed capacity. The remaining 10% follows payroll.
A more stable grid
Support for a grid with more wind and solar power
The battery takes in surplus power and releases it when supply runs short. This supports Germany's target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030.
What your town gets
Trade tax
What your town gets
90% of the project’s trade tax
How it works
Each plant is run by its own project company. By law, a company that operates only storage plants pays 90% of its trade tax to the town where the plant stands, based on installed capacity. The remaining 10% follows payroll.
A more stable grid
What your town gets
Support for a grid with more wind and solar power
How it works
The battery takes in surplus power and releases it when supply runs short. This supports Germany's target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030.
What your town gets
Topic
What your town gets
How it works
Trade tax
90% of the project’s trade tax
Each plant is run by its own project company. By law, a company that operates only storage plants pays 90% of its trade tax to the town where the plant stands, based on installed capacity. The remaining 10% follows payroll.
A more stable grid
Support for a grid with more wind and solar power
The battery takes in surplus power and releases it when supply runs short. This supports Germany's target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030.
Secure the site
We identify suitable land and secure it. Before we commit, we check it for construction and operation: soil, unexploded ordnance, noise and fire safety.
Grid reservation
The grid operator reserves connection capacity for the project.
Grid planning
Technical planning of the high-voltage, 110 kV, connection.
Permits
BESS: building permit
Substation: building permit
Cable route: rights of way from landowners, and crossing permits (roads, rail, waterways)
Typically 8–12 months from grid reservation to ready-to-build.
Ready-to-build
Permits and grid connection secured. We sell the project.
Financial close
We support the buyer until its financing is in place.
Secure the site
We identify suitable land and secure it. Before we commit, we check it for construction and operation: soil, unexploded ordnance, noise and fire safety.
Grid reservation
The grid operator reserves connection capacity for the project.
Grid planning
Technical planning of the high-voltage, 110 kV, connection.
Permits
BESS: building permit
Substation: building permit
Cable route: rights of way from landowners, and crossing permits (roads, rail, waterways)
Typically 8–12 months from grid reservation to ready-to-build.
Ready-to-build
Permits and grid connection secured. We sell the project.
Financial close
We support the buyer until its financing is in place.
Secure the site
We identify suitable land and secure it. Before we commit, we check it for construction and operation: soil, unexploded ordnance, noise and fire safety.
Grid reservation
The grid operator reserves connection capacity for the project.
Grid planning
Technical planning of the high-voltage, 110 kV, connection.
Permits
BESS: building permit
Substation: building permit
Cable route: rights of way from landowners, and crossing permits (roads, rail, waterways)
Typically 8–12 months from grid reservation to ready-to-build.
Ready-to-build
Permits and grid connection secured. We sell the project.
Financial close
We support the buyer until its financing is in place.
Common battery storage questions from towns
Question
Our answer
Is it safe from fire?
The building permit for each plant includes a fire protection concept, agreed with the local fire service.
Will it be noisy?
Before a permit is granted, a noise study checks the plant against the federal noise rules (TA Lärm). We check noise from the first site assessment.
What happens at the end?
The plant is removed and the ground is unsealed. Outside built-up areas, the law requires a written removal commitment, which the building authority secures, usually with a financial guarantee.
Common battery storage questions from towns
Is it safe from fire?
The building permit for each plant includes a fire protection concept, agreed with the local fire service.
Will it be noisy?
Before a permit is granted, a noise study checks the plant against the federal noise rules (TA Lärm). We check noise from the first site assessment.
What happens at the end?
The plant is removed and the ground is unsealed. Outside built-up areas, the law requires a written removal commitment, which the building authority secures, usually with a financial guarantee.
Common battery storage questions from towns
Question
Our answer
Is it safe from fire?
The building permit for each plant includes a fire protection concept, agreed with the local fire service.
Will it be noisy?
Before a permit is granted, a noise study checks the plant against the federal noise rules (TA Lärm). We check noise from the first site assessment.
What happens at the end?
The plant is removed and the ground is unsealed. Outside built-up areas, the law requires a written removal commitment, which the building authority secures, usually with a financial guarantee.
Data centers
A mid-sized data center site in your town
Data centers
A mid-sized data center site in your town
Data centers
A mid-sized data center site in your town
The federal Data Center Strategy (March 2026) supports new data centers in many places across Germany, not only in large hubs such as Frankfurt.
The federal Data Center Strategy (March 2026) supports new data centers in many places across Germany, not only in large hubs such as Frankfurt.
The federal Data Center Strategy (March 2026) supports new data centers in many places across Germany, not only in large hubs such as Frankfurt.
IT load
5–30 MW per site (power used by the servers)
Grid connection
20 kV (medium voltage)
Fiber
Fiber optic connection, checked for every site before we commit
Land
Zoned for industrial or commercial use
Stage
First sites in development
Our role
Land, grid connection and permits
IT load
5–30 MW per site (power used by the servers)
Grid connection
20 kV (medium voltage)
Fiber
Fiber optic connection, checked for every site before we commit
Land
Zoned for industrial or commercial use
Stage
First sites in development
Our role
Land, grid connection and permits
IT load
5–30 MW per site (power used by the servers)
Grid connection
20 kV (medium voltage)
Fiber
Fiber optic connection, checked for every site before we commit
Land
Zoned for industrial or commercial use
Stage
First sites in development
Our role
Land, grid connection and permits
We bring in a trusted long-term partner early in the development of the project. We stay involved throughout permitting and site preparation. Our partner builds and owns the data center.
We bring in a trusted long-term partner early in the development of the project. We stay involved throughout permitting and site preparation. Our partner builds and owns the data center.
We bring in a trusted long-term partner early in the development of the project. We stay involved throughout permitting and site preparation. Our partner builds and owns the data center.
What your town gets
Topic
What your town gets
How it works
Digital sovereignty
Computing capacity in Germany, under German law
The federal Data Center Strategy of March 2026 describes data centers as an essential basis for digital sovereignty and economic security, and a resilient digital infrastructure as part of Germany's national security.
Trade tax
All of the trade tax, if the operating company is based at the site
A federal bill now before parliament would give host towns about 90% in every case, based on the site's grid connection.
Long-term site
A permanent operation with its own staff for decades
A data center runs for decades and is staffed on site. How many people work there depends on the size of the site.
Waste heat
Heat for nearby buildings, where a user exists
We look for sites near a possible heat user: a heating network, a pool, a school or an industrial park. The data center operator must offer its waste heat under the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG); whether a network takes it is agreed between the town and the operator.
Use of industrial and commercial land
Long-term fixed infrastructure on land zoned for industrial or commercial use
We look for land zoned for industrial or commercial use.
Grid connection
No new high-voltage line or 110 kV substation for the site
The site connects to the existing medium-voltage grid at 20 kV.
What your town gets
Digital sovereignty
What your town gets
Computing capacity in Germany, under German law
How it works
The federal Data Center Strategy of March 2026 describes data centers as an essential basis for digital sovereignty and economic security, and a resilient digital infrastructure as part of Germany's national security.
Trade tax
What your town gets
All of the trade tax, if the operating company is based at the site
How it works
A federal bill now before parliament would give host towns about 90% in every case, based on the site's grid connection.
Long-term site
What your town gets
A permanent operation with its own staff for decades
How it works
A data center runs for decades and is staffed on site. How many people work there depends on the size of the site.
Waste heat
What your town gets
Heat for nearby buildings, where a user exists
How it works
We look for sites near a possible heat user: a heating network, a pool, a school or an industrial park. The data center operator must offer its waste heat under the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG); whether a network takes it is agreed between the town and the operator.
Use of industrial and commercial land
What your town gets
Long-term fixed infrastructure on land zoned for industrial or commercial use
How it works
We look for land zoned for industrial or commercial use.
Grid connection
What your town gets
No new high-voltage line or 110 kV substation for the site
How it works
The site connects to the existing medium-voltage grid at 20 kV.
What your town gets
Topic
What your town gets
How it works
Digital sovereignty
Computing capacity in Germany, under German law
The federal Data Center Strategy of March 2026 describes data centers as an essential basis for digital sovereignty and economic security, and a resilient digital infrastructure as part of Germany's national security.
Trade tax
All of the trade tax, if the operating company is based at the site
A federal bill now before parliament would give host towns about 90% in every case, based on the site's grid connection.
Long-term site
A permanent operation with its own staff for decades
A data center runs for decades and is staffed on site. How many people work there depends on the size of the site.
Waste heat
Heat for nearby buildings, where a user exists
We look for sites near a possible heat user: a heating network, a pool, a school or an industrial park. The data center operator must offer its waste heat under the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG); whether a network takes it is agreed between the town and the operator.
Use of industrial and commercial land
Long-term fixed infrastructure on land zoned for industrial or commercial use
We look for land zoned for industrial or commercial use.
Grid connection
No new high-voltage line or 110 kV substation for the site
The site connects to the existing medium-voltage grid at 20 kV.
Common data center questions from towns
Question
Our answer
Does it take power from homes and businesses?
No. The site connects to the medium-voltage grid (20 kV). Its capacity is reserved with the grid operator and is separate from the low-voltage network that supplies homes. The grid operator confirms that capacity before we commit to a site.
Does it use much water?
The cooling design is fixed at the full building permit and reviewed then, with numbers. Cooling systems that use no water in normal operation are available and common.
Common data center questions from towns
Does it take power from homes and businesses?
No. The site connects to the medium-voltage grid (20 kV). Its capacity is reserved with the grid operator and is separate from the low-voltage network that supplies homes. The grid operator confirms that capacity before we commit to a site.
Does it use much water?
The cooling design is fixed at the full building permit and reviewed then, with numbers. Cooling systems that use no water in normal operation are available and common.
Common data center questions from towns
Question
Our answer
Does it take power from homes and businesses?
No. The site connects to the medium-voltage grid (20 kV). Its capacity is reserved with the grid operator and is separate from the low-voltage network that supplies homes. The grid operator confirms that capacity before we commit to a site.
Does it use much water?
The cooling design is fixed at the full building permit and reviewed then, with numbers. Cooling systems that use no water in normal operation are available and common.
Contact
Talk to us about your town
Tell us your town and what you would like to discuss.
Contact
Talk to us about your town
Tell us your town and what you would like to discuss.
Contact
Talk to us about your town
Tell us your town and what you would like to discuss.