Transmission The Digital Backbone of Energy Storage Optimization with Roger Hollies (Arenko)
Jan 22, 2026
Roger Hollies, CTO of Arenko, shares insights on how their Nimbus platform handles vast data to optimize battery, solar, and wind assets across markets. He discusses how batteries are surpassing fossil fuels in grid roles like frequency response and the need for a smarter market governance. With a focus on 'rules as code,' he emphasizes the potential for innovation and transparency in energy markets. Hollies also highlights the importance of human oversight in automated trading and the necessity for stricter regulatory measures to ensure fair service delivery.
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Batteries Are Active Fast-Control Systems
- Batteries are active control systems measured and responding at high-frequency, not just simple energy stores.
- Roger Hollies says they operate on microsecond-to-20Hz scales and require sophisticated control software.
Data Scale Drives Control Complexity
- Renko's Nimbus collects vast telemetry and turns it into usable control signals and insights.
- Roger Hollies reports managing 1.2GW and ingesting about 7 billion data points per day.
Batteries Replace Multiple Grid Services
- Batteries can provide many grid services beyond time-shifting, including reactive power, voltage control, inertia and black start.
- Roger Hollies explains they define the waveform and can be programmed for diverse power-quality roles.