- 3 min read
- 11.12.2025
- by Sebastian König
Energy becomes a test criterion for logistics locations
How grid capacity, electricity demand, and bottlenecks influence development, utilization, and investment opportunities.
In logistics, priorities are shifting when it comes to choosing locations. In addition to space availability, accessibility, and costs, one issue is becoming increasingly important: a secure power supply. Increasing automation is significantly raising energy demand. At the same time, several German cities are seeing that grid capacity and power availability are not growing at the same pace as demand for modern logistics and industrial space.
Berlin is a particularly vivid example of this. In some cases, it is already becoming clear that planned uses are failing due to a lack of connection capacity. This makes the implementation of certain brownfield projects uncertain. Grid operators are reporting “zero megawatts” of free capacity in individual districts for 2025. Even businesses with moderate consumption are reaching their limits when it comes to new or expanded connections.
Technology increases basic demand
Modern production and logistics processes depend on a constant and powerful power supply. Processes such as 3D printing, CNC machining, and battery assembly require energy for machines, cooling, testing technology, and robotics. These systems often run continuously. According to Fraunhofer ISE, a semi-automated warehouse with an area of 20,000 square meters consumes around 0.3 MW of base load or 2–3 GWh per year. Without reliable connected load, such uses are hardly economically viable.
Own generation can only compensate for this to a limited extent. Photovoltaics on hall roofs usually only cover part of the demand. Even large systems rarely deliver more than four megawatts. This is not enough for logistics processes with double-digit consumption. Battery storage systems can cushion peak loads and provide short-term support, but they cannot replace a stable basic supply.
A brake on development and capital
The bottleneck is no longer just a technical issue, but directly affects investment. In 2024, the distribution network operator Stromnetz Berlin received requests for more than 1,000 MW, which is more than half of the city's current grid load. In order to distribute scarce resources more fairly, the previous “first come, first served” principle was replaced by a distribution procedure. The available capacity is distributed evenly among all applications submitted on time. This is a logical step in distribution, but it does not change the structural shortage.
Other locations are responding differently. Frankfurt is pursuing an approach of bundling large consumers in campus structures and creating new 110-kilovolt switchgear for this purpose. Hamburg is focusing on continuous grid expansion. Nevertheless, the basic trend remains similar: in many places, the dynamics of demand for space are outpacing the speed at which energy infrastructure can be expanded.
This is also changing the market logic. Areas with secure grid capacity are increasingly becoming particularly sought-after locations. The grid situation has an impact on development opportunities, transaction volumes, and rental potential. Conversely, areas without sufficient connection options are losing their appeal and, as a result, their value. From a developer's perspective, the question of available connection capacity is therefore in many cases the first thing to be examined, even before classic criteria such as micro-location or accessibility.
Looking ahead
For 2026 and the years that follow, the decisive factor will be how quickly grid operators, local authorities, and project developers respond together. Investments in substations, intelligent load management, and temporary storage solutions are gaining strategic importance. Those who incorporate energy availability into their location analysis at an early stage can reduce risks and make long-term, resilient decisions for sustainable logistics development.
Electricity is therefore not only a relevant cost factor, but increasingly the basis for whether a logistics location can fulfill its planned function at all.
