Battery + Storage Podcast

In this episode, Troutman Pepper Partner Bill Derasmo interviews Bushveld Energy Co-Founder and CEO Mikhail Nikomarov. As the developer of a vanadium-based, long-duration flow battery, Bushveld Energy provides energy solutions to clients worldwide. During the podcast, Bill and Mikhail examine a variety of market issues, such as how to qualify a storage facility as transmission, while also allowing it to participate in energy markets, as well as potential regulatory solutions to such a regulated/market paradigm. Tapping into his unique insights, Mikhail further provides an in-depth discussion on his company's vanadium-based solution and why it can be a superior long-duration solution. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Troutman Pepper Partner Bill Derasmo interviews Mike Niggli, chairman of ESS, Inc., an Oregon-based manufacturer of low cost, long duration iron flow battery solutions for commercial and utility-scale applications. Tapping into Mr. Niggli’s wealth of experience, including his tenure as former president and COO of San Diego Gas & Electric Company, the interview explores the significant role of iron flow batteries and the part ESS, Inc.’s solution plays in the continuing transformation of the energy sector. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Troutman Pepper Partner Bill Derasmo interviews B2U Storage Solutions Co-Founder and President Freeman Hall. B2U Storage Solutions repurposes lithium ion batteries that have exhausted their useful life for transportation, giving them a second life in optimizing stationary storage solutions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Troutman Pepper Partner Bill Derasmo interviews Largo Resources CEO Paulo Misk, where they explore Largo’s long duration energy storage solution, which uses a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). This episode represents a bit of a departure from previous episodes, which have focused largely on shorter duration lithium ion-based storage. The podcast also includes a discussion on Largo’s unique “vertically-integrated” business model. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Troutman Pepper Partner Bill Derasmo interviews Jeff Bishop, the CEO of Key Capture Energy, a dynamic energy storage company with significant projects in New York, California, and several other markets. The podcast addresses in great detail the specifics of what has allowed their projects to “pencil out” and identifies some key issues in terms of monetizing the value stack associated with batteries. Mr. Bishop also discusses the challenges of starting a new company and dealing with both the equity and debt sides of funding. Don’t miss what may be our most “meaty” episode to date. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a short introduction and a yearlong hiatus, Troutman Pepper Battery + Storage Podcast host Bill Derasmo and his guest Andy Flavin discuss recent national developments (e.g., FERC’s Broadview Solar decision), but focus the lion’s share of Episode 7 on the energy storage market in Virginia. Specifically, the podcast examines the Virginia Clean Economy Act, legislation establishing a mandatory renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and specific targets for construction/acquisition of solar, wind, and energy storage facilities. Episode 7 also covers energy storage regulations set by the State Corporation Commission, as well as Virginia energy storage siting requirements and what approach to take in other states without such requirements. Finally, Bill and Andy look at electric transmission considerations for utility-scale storage facilities, both in Virginia and more broadly in RTO markets. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 6 of the Battery + Storage Podcast co-host Cliff Sikora provides an overview of reported trends regarding on-the-ground impacts of COVID-19 on battery and storage project deployment and financing. The podcast focuses on the Energy Storage Association (“ESA”) member survey about COVID-19 impacts published during the week of April 19,2020. The podcast highlights the survey’s results, and cites other data, regarding: (a) work force issues; (b) supply chain choke points (upstream and downstream); and (c) financial performance expectations for the storage sector. Regarding financial performance, the podcast reports on differences between: (1) in-the-pipe projects v. go-forward development decisions in near-term out-years; (2) hybrid projects (with renewables and storage) v. stand-alone-storage; and (3) observations of possible differences in investor perceptions between exchange traded equities and private equity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 5, the Battery + Storage Podcast team highlights 2019 developments in the grid-level storage market, and sets the stage for battery project development and finance issues that face industry stakeholders in 2020. The team references its first four episodes of the podcast, in particular, the discussion with Mike Hopkins in Episode 2 regarding challenges facing stand-alone grid-level battery finance. The team discusses a Q1 2020 Wall Street stock analyst’s report describing stand-alone battery finance as driven by merchant plays (in comparison to integrated utility entities that develop such assets on the company’s balance sheet). The team concurs with the analyst’s report, noting that they have seen stakeholders face interesting issues in developing PPA-type contracts to secure battery financing, including risk identification and mitigation associated with product and service definition(s), performance assurances, warranties and other issues. Battery merchant risks are borne by developers to the extent Regional Transmission Organization product markets are underpriced, or not yet in existence. The team discusses state-federal regulatory issues that linger over battery project development, but shouldn’t. They focus on the parties’ briefs to the DC Circuit on appeal of Order No. 841, and raise a “Listener Mail” question about how to think about Standards of Conduct compliance for a hybrid (generation-transmission) battery. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode IV, the Battery + Storage Podcast team interviews John Fernandes, Senior Consultant for Customized Energy Solutions (“CES”). In this episode, John discusses how FERC Orders 755, 841, 1000, and 2000 impact battery storage, as well as how battery storage has evolved over the years. John notes, when discussing FERC order 841 for example, that storage resources can get qualified for capacity credit in certain regions if an entity demonstrates it could deliver capacity for a four-hour peak, and how in a few years this number may soon be reduced to a two-hour peak. He also discusses how battery storage is becoming a cheaper and faster way for addressing the incredibly expensive and complex challenges associated with building more transmission lines (e.g. removes the need to obtain permits and resolves interconnection challenges). John specifically states that storage’s “flexibility” and ability to move around removes the risk of stranded assets and can improve a utility’s timeliness and financial risk exposure. In thinking about bulk power, John discusses how battery storage may in the future be deployed on the bulk power system as distribution, transmission, and generation, as well as the challenges that may arise with such an allowance. John also analyzes ancillary services and how battery storage qualifies to deliver those services as devices aimed at regulation and primary frequency response. He specifically notes, for example, that storage is “… well positioned to earn revenues from a service like regulation.” He further notes how CES specifically models its projects for its clients and is designed as a storage platform that generally relies on lithium-based batteries. In the last portion of the show, John discusses the potential pitfalls and merits of the roles the various players should play regarding distribution planning in the storage sector, as well as for the RTOs and ISOs.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode III, the Battery + Storage Podcast team interviews Mathy Stanislaus, Interim Director of the Global Battery Alliance (“GBA”). In this episode, Mathy discusses the incredibly important role GBA and the World Resource Institute play in the battery storage space. He shares how batteries are a vehicle to jump-start economies and keep them moving in a sustainable way. This will be essential, as battery consumption projections are expected to increase “13-fold” by 2030. Battery storage, Mathy said, is at an inflection point and will serve as one of the major drivers toward mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement (click here to view the full report). However, this increased demand and reliance on battery storage has resulted in a wealth of human rights concerns. Mathy presents the example of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where child labor is exploited in artisanal mining of cobalt, a critical element used in the production of lithium-ion batteries. In response, Mathy discusses the complex challenges of addressing such human rights concerns, given the critical role batteries will play in the worldwide energy future. He posits that it is the responsibility of the entire value chain to fix this problem and shares that GBA is rolling-out a roadmap for a sustainable battery value chain. Mathy concludes by sharing his thoughts on how proactive policy approaches are needed to respond to the growing battery demand and the importance of having more pro-competitive conversations solving both the opportunities and problems of the future. Be on the lookout for another episode with Mathy in the coming weeks as we continue the conversation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.