Transmission

Brandon Faber, Director at NORD/LB, shares his expertise in financing renewable energy, focusing on battery energy storage projects. He discusses the complexities of raising capital in this field, including how banks evaluate and structure financing. Brandon elaborates on the significance of tolling agreements and how merchant risk impacts lending decisions. He also highlights the relationship between solar energy and battery storage, while shedding light on the evolving landscape shaped by incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Sodium-ion batteries are at a critical moment of commercialization. With challenges in the lithium-ion supply chains, alternative battery chemistries are gaining attention. Could sodium-based solid-state batteries provide a safer, more sustainable path for large-scale grid storage? With low cost and readily available materials, sodium-ion technology could be a huge competitor. This week, Quentin Scrimshire is joined by Dr. Neil Kidner, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Adena Power, to discuss why sodium-based solid-state batteries could be a game-changer for energy storage. With a background in materials science and decades of experience in advanced battery technologies, Neil explains how Adena Power is pioneering sodium-based solutions, the key differences from lithium-ion, and what the future holds for alternative battery chemistries.In this episode, we’ll cover:Why sodium-based solid-state batteries could be a safer and more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion.The challenges of lithium-ion supply chains and the potential for domestic alternatives.How Adena Power is developing high-temperature sodium-based battery technology.The role of alternative battery chemistries in long-duration energy storage.What investors and policymakers should consider when looking beyond lithium-ion.About our GuestDr. Neil Kidner leads the scientific and technological development at Adena Power, focusing on innovative sodium-based solid-state batteries designed for safer and more efficient grid energy storage. With a Ph.D. in Materials Science and over 15 years of experience in product development, Neil has been instrumental in advancing alternative battery technologies that utilize abundant materials like sodium and aluminum. His work at Adena Power builds on years of research in solid-state electrochemistry, with a focus on commercializing next-generation battery storage solutions.For more information on Adena Power, check out their website. About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Dr. Neil Kidner, Co-Founder and CSO at Adena Power, shares insights into the promising world of sodium-ion batteries. He discusses how sodium-based solid-state batteries can provide a safer and more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion technology. With challenges in lithium supply chains, sodium-ion may be the answer for large-scale grid storage. Neil emphasizes the importance of innovative materials, domestic supply chains, and engaging stakeholders to drive advancements in energy storage. He also explores the potential impact of these technologies on achieving net-zero emissions.

Shyam Srinivasan, CEO and Co-Founder of Zitara Technologies, specializes in advanced battery analytics and real-time edge monitoring for energy storage. He discusses how battery management systems' inaccuracies can lead to significant financial losses. Shyam explains the challenges of lithium iron phosphate batteries and the need for accurate data in energy trading. He advocates for a shift towards real-time edge computing, emphasizing its advantages over cloud analytics, and highlights essential data requirements for better procurement in the battery sector.

Accurately measuring a battery’s state of charge might seem like a simple task, but small errors can have huge financial consequences.From base point deviations to inaccurate market bids, asset owners are leaving money on the table due to imprecise battery management systems. Could better software and real-time analytics unlock greater returns?This week, Quentin is joined by Shyam Srinivasan, CEO and Co-Founder of Zitara Technologies, to discuss how advanced battery analytics can improve accuracy, longevity, and revenue certainty for energy storage owners.With a background in cutting-edge hardware and software solutions—including time at Nest—Shyam explains why state-of-charge miscalculations are so common, how the shift to LFP chemistry has created new challenges, and why the industry needs a fundamental rethink of battery monitoring and control.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Why OEM battery management systems can be off by 20-30% during discharge.How inaccurate state-of-charge readings impact market participation and revenues.The challenges of managing LFP batteries compared to previous chemistries.Why Zitara focuses on real-time edge computing instead of cloud analytics.What asset owners should demand in their procurement contracts to ensure better data access.About Shyam SrinivasanShyam Srinivasan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Zitara Technologies, a company specializing in advanced battery analytics and real-time edge monitoring for grid-scale storage. With a background in both hardware and software engineering, he previously worked at Nest, helping develop intelligent home automation solutions before pivoting to energy storage. At Zitara, Shyam and his team focus on optimizing battery performance, ensuring greater accuracy in state-of-charge measurements, and helping asset owners maximize profitability through smarter energy management.

Commodity markets are often misunderstood—opaque, complex, and heavily influenced by regulation, liquidity constraints, and global supply chains. But what role do interdealer brokers play in facilitating large-scale transactions and ensuring market stability?This week, Quentin Scrimshire is joined by Campbell Faulkner, Senior Vice President and Chief Data Analyst at OTC Global Holdings. With decades of experience in commodity trading, market structure, and risk management, Campbell shares his insights on the shifting role of interdealers, the impact of market regulation, and the trends shaping global energy and power trading.In this episode, Q and Campbell discuss:The role of interdealer brokers in facilitating large commodity transactions.How market liquidity, volatility, and regulation shape trading strategies.Why over-the-counter markets remain critical for managing risk in energy and commodities.The impact of electrification and data center growth on power markets.And Campbell’s contrarian take on the future of net-zero policies and energy infrastructure.About Campbell FaulknerCampbell Faulkner is the Senior Vice President and Chief Data Analyst at OTC Global Holdings, the world’s largest independent interdealer broker in commodities. With a background in market structure, quantitative modeling, and risk management, Campbell has been instrumental in developing analytics-driven solutions for energy and commodity trading.Over his career, he has worked closely with hedge funds, utilities, and oil majors, providing insights into market liquidity, volatility, and regulatory trends. Today, he leads the market data division at OTC Global Holdings, ensuring traders have the intelligence needed to navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape.

In this engaging discussion, Campbell Faulkner, Senior VP and Chief Data Analyst at OTC Global Holdings, unpacks the complexities of commodity markets. He emphasizes the crucial role of interdealer brokers in enhancing market stability through anonymity and liquidity. The conversation reveals how market regulation and volatility shape trading strategies, and why over-the-counter markets are vital for risk management. Faulkner also shares a contrarian perspective on net-zero policies, exploring the challenges and innovations needed for sustainable energy infrastructure.

Join Paul Reed, Founder and CEO of RSunrise Energy, as he dives into the evolving landscape of battery storage in the Northeast. With nearly a decade of experience, he discusses how queue reform is reshaping PJM and NYISO's market dynamics. Paul highlights why 2025 could be a pivotal year for capacity prices and how state incentives are paving the way for investment. He also explains the role of the Inflation Reduction Act and the significance of local manufacturing in driving the region's energy transition.

The Northeast has long been one of the most complex regions for battery storage development in the U.S. While Texas and California have surged ahead, PJM and NYISO have struggled with slow interconnection processes, shifting policy landscapes, and unpredictable market signals. But is that starting to change?This week, Quentin is joined by Paul Reed, Founder and CEO of RSunrise Energy, to discuss why he believes the Northeast is primed for a battery storage resurgence. With deep experience in PJM and a track record of navigating regulatory and market challenges, Paul shares insights on the impact of queue reform, the opportunities emerging from distressed assets, and why state-level incentives are creating a new wave of investment.Over the course of the episode, they discuss: How queue reform is reshaping storage development in PJM and NYISO.The impact of rising capacity prices and why 2025 is a key inflection point.The role of federal and state incentives in making battery projects financeable.What developers need to know about securing grid connections and revenue certainty.Why Paul believes the Northeast is the next big opportunity for storage growth.About our GuestPaul Reed is the Founder and CEO of RSunrise Energy, a development firm focused on battery storage projects in PJM and the Northeast. With nearly a decade of experience in demand response, behind-the-meter storage, and grid-scale development, Paul has played a key role in advancing energy storage in some of the most challenging markets in the U.S. Today, he is focused on building out a portfolio of storage projects that will help drive the next phase of grid modernization in the Northeast. Find Paul on LinkedIn.About Modo EnergyModo Energy provides forecasts, benchmarking, data, and insights for new energy assets - all in one place. Built for analysts, Modo helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our video series of bite-sized chunks explaining how different battery energy storage systems work.

Guy Nicholson, Head of Grid Integration UK at Statkraft, shares his 33 years of expertise in renewable energy. He discusses the rising complexities of grid stability with the increase of wind and solar power. Synchronous compensators are highlighted as key technologies that provide necessary inertia. Guy explains their operational dynamics and contrasts them with battery-based responses. The conversation touches on the National Grid's Stability Pathfinder program and the critical lessons learned from the 2019 blackout, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions in energy management.