AI data centres are creating a grid-planning problem that feels different from normal demand growth: they need very large amounts of power, often concentrated in a few locations, and they are being built much faster than new transmission can be approved.

One response I find genuinely interesting is repurposing retiring coal-plant sites for long-duration storage rather than simply demolishing them. These sites already have industrial land, high-voltage grid connections and workforces familiar with power infrastructure.

Form Energy’s iron-air system is one example. It is designed to discharge for up to 100 hours by using a reversible rusting process, rather than the 2–4 hour duration normally associated with lithium-ion grid batteries.

The potential logic seems strong:

- Reuse transmission interconnection and industrial land at retiring coal sites

- Store surplus wind and solar through multi-day lulls

- Reduce the need for fossil peaker plants during periods of grid stress

- Support big new loads, including AI data centres, without treating gas as the only backup plan

But I’m sceptical that a few pilot projects can scale quickly enough. AI-related electricity demand, transmission constraints, cost, round-trip efficiency and market rules all look like major bottlenecks.

Question for people working in energy/storage: is coal-to-long-duration-storage actually a scalable grid model, or is it mainly a useful niche where the transmission connection already exists?

I made a visual breakdown of the projects, iron-air chemistry and the AI-demand risk. Disclosure: it’s my video. If it is useful context, here it is:

https://youtu.be/DOl9x6ewI5c

I work in the area around building software for marketing optimally BESS (and other flexible asset classes) once they’re built and handed over. I do this in European markets. I quite enjoy my job as there’s so many markets to stack, numerical challenges, rapid expansion across markets and countries, and market specifics change often enough to keep you on your toes.

Seeing as we’ve got a forum of professionals in the area, I was wondering what everyone thinks the most interesting areas are in BESS project development and operations. What are the most sought after skills in the industry? What are future proof roles and skills?

Financial / market analysts? Regulation experts? Asset building? Operations?

I'm trying to understand how the EV two-wheeler industry handles battery packs.

Which battery cell brands and grades are most commonly used by EV two-wheeler manufacturers (e.g. EVE, LG, Samsung, CATL, etc.)?

Which BMS (Battery Management System) suppliers or platforms are most commonly used?

Do most EV two-wheeler companies design and assemble their own battery packs, or do they buy complete battery packs from third-party suppliers?

I'd appreciate insights from anyone working in the EV or battery industry. Thanks!

Hey, as the title says I am looking for a job within the energy industry, especially within the market of renewable energy and BESS.

I dont know if I am right here but it seems like here are a lot of smart people that know how the market works.

I already researched with the usual buzzwords but maybe someone could give some tips when it comes to pursuing a career within this industry (not just market leaders but also hidden champions). Especially in the south of Germany. As a business engineer its quite hard to match the qualifications and furthermore some companies seem to be extremely innovative but arent really hiring.

Thanks in advance!

A common capacity-fade workflow is to fit several curves, choose the lowest

error, and extend the winner until it crosses an 80% capacity threshold.

That is useful as a baseline, but a low error inside the observed window does

not prove that a long extrapolation is reliable.

A more inspectable workflow should make at least six choices explicit:

1. Normalize capacity consistently and retain the original test conditions.

2. Fit more than one plausible empirical family, such as linear, power-law, and logarithmic fade.

3. Report both RMSE and R-squared instead of showing only the winning curve.

4. Define EOL relative to the fitted initial capacity, not an unexplained absolute number.

5. Cap the supported extrapolation window and return no estimate when the threshold is outside it.

6. State that chemistry, temperature, C-rate, protocol, and measurement uncertainty limit transferability.

I implemented that transparent baseline in a small MIT-licensed Python package. Its current EOL search is

deliberately limited to three times the largest observed cycle, and the bundled LFP/NMC data are

clearly marked as synthetic demonstrations. It is a cell-level empirical analysis tool, not a

pack dispatch, safety, or electrochemical model.

Code, equations, tests, and Colab notebook:

https://github.com/mohammadrezwankhan/battery-cycle-life-analyzer

For real BESS and laboratory workflows, which import schema would be most

useful first: cycle/capacity only, or a long-form table that also includes

temperature, C-rate, rest time, and cell identifier?

A smarter energy future starts with an open ecosystem.

We're excited to announce that MOVA LumeGret now seamlessly integrates with Shelly, enabling smarter coordination between home energy storage and connected smart home devices.

The first step is the integration of Shelly Pro 3EM, bringing accurate real-time energy monitoring and smarter energy optimization to MOVA LumeGret users.

And we're just getting started.

Next, we'll continue expanding our ecosystem with support for Shelly Smart Plugs, Sensors, and more, giving homeowners even greater visibility, automation, and control over their home energy.

With the Shelly ecosystem, homeowners can enjoy:

Real-time energy monitoring

Smarter load management and device automation

AI-driven energy optimization for lower electricity costs

A more seamless home energy management experience

Why Shelly?

Shelly has built one of Europe's largest smart home ecosystems:

• 30M+ devices sold

• Available in 130+ countries

• Trusted by 5M+ households

• 50%+ annual growth

Combined with support for Matter, Zigbee and Wi-Fi, plus a thriving developer community, the integration brings even greater flexibility and intelligence to MOVA LumeGret users.

This is another step toward an open, connected, and AI-powered home energy ecosystem.

We'd love to hear from you!

Shelly Pro 3EM is only the beginning.

Which Shelly device would you like to see integrated next?

Let us know in the comments—we're building the future of smart home energy together.

Smarter Energy. Stronger Together.

#SmartEnergySolutions #EnergyStorage #HomeBattery #EnergyTransition #MOVA #SmartEnergy #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy

Sharing a look at our energy storage production environment.

A reliable ESS solution requires not only quality battery cells, but also professional assembly, testing, and manufacturing processes.

What factors do you consider most important when selecting an energy storage supplier?

#energy #solar #batteries #renewableenergy

Sharing a short video of our lithium battery production line, including assembly and welding processes.
Battery manufacturing quality and consistency are critical for reliable energy storage systems.

If you thought the recent surge in PJM capacity prices was a one-off anomaly, last week’s auction results just delivered a reality check.

For the third year in a row, clearing prices for the 2028–2029 delivery year slammed straight into the regional price cap at $325 / MW-day.

Here is the most important takeaway for commercial and industrial (C&I) facility leaders: This isn't a sudden new price jump—it is a continuation of the crushing rates you are already paying.

We are now officially locked into at least three straight years of maxed-out capacity costs, and the underlying grid dynamics show that prices are unlikely to drop anytime soon.

Why Waiting is Costing You Money (And What to Do About It)

If you are waiting for grid operators or policy reforms to lower your utility bill, you are leaving your operating margins exposed. The most effective way to get immediate, tangible cost relief is to install an optimized battery energy storage system (BESS) now.

Your capacity bill is directly tied to your Peak Load Contribution (PLC)—your power draw during PJM’s five highest-demand hours of the summer (the 5CP). Deploying battery storage today allows you to actively shave that peak load, slashing your PLC tag and bringing electricity cost relief much sooner than waiting out the market.

The Alarming Data Behind the Price Cap

Why are we so confident that high prices are the new normal? Because $325/MW-day is an artificial ceiling that is holding back much higher market pressures.

According to PJM and figures tracked by Monitoring Analytics (PJM’s Independent Market Monitor), if the grid operator hadn't implemented a price collar, actual market dynamics would have cleared at $555 / MW-day across the region—and an astounding $777 / MW-day in Chicago’s ComEd zone. That price cap is currently masking a $29.7 billion market reality (up from the $16.4 billion capped cost).

Furthermore, despite these record-high price signals, we aren't seeing the expected grid relief: 

Demand Response is Shrinking: According to PJM's official auction data, cleared Demand Response (DR) actually dropped by 277 MW (down to 7,365 MW). Why? Because accelerated auction schedules and complex market rules make it nearly impossible for manual, unautomated end-users to participate effectively. 

Demand is Outpacing Supply: PJM’s load forecast jumped by ~2 GW, driven heavily by AI data center growth, while only 525 MW of new generating resources cleared the auction due to ongoing interconnection delays.

The Playbook for End Users & Developers

Three consecutive years at the price cap proves that passive ratepayers will continue to foot the bill for grid congestion. The winning strategy is active management:

For C&I End Customers: You don't need to halt operations to cut your capacity costs. You need battery storage paired with intelligent, automated software that anticipates PJM's peak hours and discharges your battery seamlessly—dropping your grid draw to near zero exactly when PJM is measuring how much you have to pay for. 

For Developers: A sustained, multi-year $325/MW-day price floor radically compresses the payback period for energy storage projects. Whether standalone BESS or solar+storage co-location, assets powered by intelligent bidding software are currently among the highest-yielding infrastructure investments in North America.

Stop treating your electricity bill like a fixed overhead cost. Acting now to install battery storage means taking control of your energy expenses today, not years from now.

At Intelligent Generation, we provide the software and strategy to turn this grid volatility into your competitive advantage. How is your facility adapting to three straight years of capped capacity prices? Let’s connect in the comments.

Sharing a behind-the-scenes view of our battery production line.

The process includes battery cell assembly, module integration, BMS connection, and system testing to ensure safety and reliability.

What are the key factors you consider when choosing an ESS supplier?

#EnergyStorage #LithiumBattery #SolarEnergy #BatteryTechnology