Nagel-Group puts high-performance CellCube battery storage system into operation at Bochum site
Bochum, 08/07/2025. Nagel-Group is setting another important milestone on its way to sustainable logistics: an innovative battery storage system from the Austrian manufacturer CellCube has now been put into operation at the Bochum site. The new storage system complements the largest rooftop photovoltaic system in the Ruhr region, which is also located at the Bochum site, and significantly increases the self-consumption rate of the electricity generated.
Until now, around 40% to 50% of the solar energy from the photovoltaic system could not be used directly and therefore had to be fed into the public grid. The new electricity storage system means that these surpluses can be efficiently stored on a temporary basis in future and used directly on site when required. This self-use of electricity generated can save an impressive amount in electricity costs – up to €450,000 per year. The electricity is used to supply cooling systems, to charge electric trucks and industrial vehicles and to avoid peak loads during the course of the day.
Sustainability, efficiency and security of supply for food logistics
“The new battery storage system is another important component of our sustainability strategy,” explains Carsten Taucke, CEO of Nagel-Group. “Not only does it enable us to utilise renewable energy more efficiently, but also to further strengthen the security of supply for our temperature-controlled processes.”
CellCube storage technology offers several advantages for food logistics. With a storage capacity of 2.5 MWh and a maximum power output of 500 kW, the battery storage system reliably provides energy, even at night or on days with low solar radiation. This is a compelling advantage, particularly in the area of temperature-controlled logistics processes: in the event of a short-term grid interruption, the storage system can step in and secure continuity of the power supply to critical cooling systems. It therefore also acts as a temporary backup power source.
Another benefit lies in intelligent peak load management. Energy requirements fluctuate greatly, particularly in food logistics – for example, when charging several electrically powered trucks at the same time. The electricity storage system can absorb these load peaks with a power consumption of up to 666 kW. The vanadium flow technology is based on non-flammable, water-based electrolytes that work safely even at extreme temperatures between -40 and +45 degrees Celsius.
At the same time, the system boasts an exceptionally long service life in excess of 30 years and more than 30,000 charging cycles. This means that the system’s full storage capacity is maintained over its entire service life. Intelligent use of self-generated electricity from the photovoltaic system reduces electricity procurement costs at the Bochum site by around €450,000 a year, a benefit for both the environment and in economic terms.
f.l.t.r.: Daniel Orzall (Head of Forwarding at Nagel-Group’s Bochum site), Stefan Mörchel (Driver and Fleet Manager at Nagel-Group’s Bochum site), Norman Marian (Area Manager West at Nagel-Group), Sven Budde (Technical Manager at Nagel-Group’s Bochum site), Michael Wellmann (Employee in the TGA division at Nagel-Group), Christoph Stelzer (COO of CellCube Energy Storage GmbH)
Sustainability consistently thought through
The deployment is also a clear blueprint for the future from a technical operations perspective, as André Pleines, Executive Director Real Estate at Nagel-Group, emphasises: “We are putting our faith in the CellCube system, a storage solution that is ideally suited to the demands of our logistics centres: robust, low-maintenance and economically scalable. The technology can be seamlessly integrated into our existing infrastructure and helps us to make our energy supply more independent and sustainable in the long term.”
The storage solution’s sustainability begins not only during operation, but is also evident during production: the vanadium electrolyte used is obtained from recycled raw materials such as by-products from the steel industry. It is non-flammable, non-explosive, reusable and contains no rare earth metals, an environmental plus point over conventional battery systems.
“We have found a forward-looking partner in Nagel-Group that demonstrates how sustainable energy storage and mission-critical applications such as cold chain logistics can work together in perfect harmony,” says Christoph Stelzer, COO of CellCube Energy Storage GmbH. “Our vanadium technology offers the safety, longevity and scalability that is needed for this.”
Blueprint for other locations
The Bochum site serves as a pilot project for integrating electricity storage in food logistics. Other Nagel-Group logistics centres, including one in Hamburg, are already well into the planning phase for implementing comparable systems.
