A battery storage system with 1 MW / 1 MWh is a stationary storage system with a power of 1 megawatt and a capacity of 1 megawatt hour. Power (MW) indicates how quickly the storage system can absorb or release electricity, while capacity (MWh) describes how much energy it stores in total. Storage systems of this size are used in industrial operations, at large commercial sites and as an entry point into grid-supporting applications.
Power indicates how much electricity the storage system can deliver or absorb at any given moment – crucial for buffering load peaks at the grid connection. Capacity describes how long it can maintain this power. A storage system with 1 MW and 1 MWh can, in theory, discharge at full power for one hour.
Both values are often mixed up in search queries and offers (“1 MW battery storage”, “battery storage 1 MWh”). For system design, they must be considered separately, because a storage system with 1 MWh can have a power of 500 kW or 1 MW depending on the system – with very different application possibilities.
The storage duration is calculated by dividing capacity by power:
| Design | Storage duration | Typical focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 MW / 1 MWh | approx. 1 hour | short, high load peaks, fast control tasks |
| 500 kW / 1 MWh | approx. 2 hours | peak shaving over longer time windows, self-consumption from PV |
| 1 MW / 2 MWh | approx. 2 hours | combination of peak shaving, PV shifting and energy trading |
Only the load profile of the site reveals which design is appropriate: How high are the peaks, how long do they last, and how much PV surplus is generated? Without this data, any size specification is just an estimate.
Voltfang builds storage systems of this size modularly:
The storage system is controlled via an energy management system that evaluates the load profile, PV generation and electricity prices to plan charging and discharging accordingly.
A battery storage system in the megawatt range sits on the boundary between large Commercial storage and Large-scale battery storage. If it is located behind the grid connection of a business, it is also referred to as an industrial battery storage system. Systems operated directly on the grid from several megawatts upwards are considered grid-scale battery storage systems.
When searching for “battery storage 1 MWh cost”, it is important to note that the price never depends on capacity alone. Decisive factors also include:
Whether a storage system of this size pays off is determined less by the price per kWh than by the savings at the site: avoided power peaks, higher self-consumption and, if applicable, trading revenues. General cost factors are described in our article on the costs of commercial storage systems. Entry is possible via leasing without an initial investment.
Smaller power classes are described in the article on 500 kW battery storage, while the next level is covered in the article on battery storage with 2 MW / 2 MWh.
A battery storage system with 1 MW and 1 MWh has a power of 1 megawatt and a capacity of 1 megawatt hour. It can, in theory, provide 1 MW of power for one hour.
1 MW describes the power, i.e., how much electricity the storage system can absorb or release at any given moment. 1 MWh describes the capacity, i.e., how much energy is stored in total.
That depends on the power drawn: at 1 MW, 1 MWh lasts for one hour in theory; at 500 kW, it lasts for about two hours. The storage duration is calculated by dividing capacity by power.
With the Voltfang 3 commercial storage system (255 kWh, 125 kW per unit), four units result in around 1 MWh at 500 kW power. For 1 MW of power, eight units with around 2 MWh are required. The appropriate design is determined by the site’s load profile.
Typical applications include peak shaving, self-consumption optimisation with large PV systems, buffering the grid connection for charging infrastructure or electrified processes, and energy trading with free capacity.
Not necessarily. Behind the grid connection of a business, it is usually considered a large commercial or industrial storage system. Grid-scale battery storage systems are primarily systems of several megawatts or more that are operated directly on the grid.
In addition to capacity, costs depend on power, cell technology, system integration, safety concept, grid connection and installation site. A reliable price can only be provided within a project context. Voltfang provides a free initial assessment based on the load profile for this purpose.
With modular systems, yes. The Voltfang 3 commercial storage system can be scaled up to 4 MWh with AC coupling. Grid connection and installation space should therefore be considered during planning for later expansion. At Kerschgens Steel Trading, a storage system originally planned with 1 MWh was expanded to 2.8 MWh.
