866: Are Batteries the New Substations? | Wärtsilä’s Bold Vision for Grid-Scale Storage

Oct 21, 2025

David Hebert, VP of Global Sales & Strategy at Wärtsilä Energy Storage, shares insights on transforming batteries into vital grid infrastructure. He discusses how recent climate events have changed energy storage dynamics. Tamara de Gruyter, President of Energy Storage, highlights the U.S. market's maturity and the need for software-driven solutions. They explore the concept of 'virtual inertia' and its importance, along with revenue models from international markets, urging collaboration between developers and tech providers for a reliable energy future.

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INSIGHT

Batteries Now Seen As Grid Assets

Batteries have matured from "nice toys" to reliable grid assets that operators now buy like substations.
David Hebert says batteries reach that status through improved reliability and system uptime nearing 99%.

INSIGHT

Market Maturation Driven By Renewables And AI

The U.S. storage market is maturing with more renewables and complex stability needs.
Tamara de Gruyter highlights data centers and AI as new drivers demanding sophisticated, software-driven storage solutions.

INSIGHT

Multi-Functional Batteries In Advanced Markets

Advanced markets combine grid-forming, frequency regulation, and capacity services into multi-functional battery deployments.
David Hebert points to Australia, the UK, and Saudi Arabia as leaders using batteries for virtual inertia and reactive power.

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Storage Isn’t Backup—It’s Infrastructure

Wildfires, heat waves, and AI-fueled data centers are pushing our grid to the edge. The question is no longer whether we need storage—it's whether we're going to unlock its full potential.

In this live episode from RE+, Nico is joined by two global leaders from Wärtsilä Energy—Tamara de Gruyter, President of Energy Storage, and David Hebert, VP of Global Sales & Strategy. Together, we unpack the evolution of batteries from “nice toys” to essential grid infrastructure.

Tamara brings her international lens to the US market, highlighting both the growing sophistication of customers and the urgent need for flexible, software-driven solutions. Meanwhile, Dave draws on a decade of global storage deployments—from Australia to Saudi Arabia—to explain how the U.S. can broaden focus on revenue models, regulation, and system design.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why grid operators now treat batteries like substations

🔹 How data centers and AI are changing the storage equation

🔹 What “virtual inertia” really means—and why it matters

🔹 How US developers can learn from global storage markets

If you want to understand how batteries are shaping the future of energy reliability, this episode delivers both vision and practical insight.

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