Battery + Storage Podcast

In this episode, host Bill Derasmo sits down with Nis Benn, the visionary co-founder and chief commercial officer at Hyme Energy. Benn shares his unique career journey that led him to revolutionize grid-scale thermal energy storage solutions. They delve into the dynamic challenges and opportunities within the energy sector, exploring how policy shapes the adoption of renewables. Tune in to uncover the groundbreaking world of renewable energy stored in molten salt and be inspired by the future of sustainable innovation.

In this episode, host Bill Derasmo welcomes Mike Hall, CEO of Anza Renewables. With more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry, Hall shares insights into the founding and growth of Anza in 2022. The discussion covers the importance of technology platforms, vendor relationships, and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on market trends and challenges. Tune in to learn about Anza's role in navigating procurement landscapes and the future of energy storage.

In this episode, host Bill Derasmo is joined by Dr. Marco Terruzin, the chief commercial and product officer at Energy Vault. Dr. Terruzzin shares his background in energy economics and trading, with experience in both the U.S. and China. He discusses how international experience and cross-cultural knowledge have expanded the energy sector. The conversation focuses on innovative energy storage solutions, including gravity and hybrid energy storage systems, and the increasing demand for dispatchable, emission-free resources. Tune in to learn about the priorities in energy storage and potential solutions.

Host Bill Derasmo welcomes Dr. Raj Talluri, CEO at Enovix. Dr. Talluri, who holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, leads Enovix in pioneering 100% active silicon batteries. These batteries address the limitations of current technology, especially in consumer electronics. The conversation covers Enovix's future plans, including a new factory in Malaysia, and explores the challenges and market demands driven by AI applications and the need for better battery performance in electric vehicles (EVs). Tune in to discover how Enovix's innovations are set to impact various industries.

In this episode of the Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo speaks with Julia Souder, CEO of the Long Duration Energy Storage Council (LDESC). Julia shares her creative background in the energy sector, which has fueled her passion and commitment to advancing long-duration energy storage (LDES) and promoting renewable energy. The discussion covers the challenges and opportunities for LDES, highlighting California's leadership and initiatives, such as the California Public Utilities Commission's goal of achieving one gigawatt of LDES by 2030. Tune in to learn about the future of energy storage, the diverse technologies involved, and the importance of continued advocacy and policy support in achieving decarbonization goals.

In this episode of the Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo and co-host Josh Combs welcome Laurel Meeks, director of energy storage development at Duke Energy. Laurel leads a team of developers managing the strategy and project development of regulated microgrid and battery energy storage systems across Duke Energy's six states. The trio discusses Duke Energy's storage development strategy and approach across its service territories. Listen in to learn more about how Duke Energy is reimagining the grid of the future through smart, innovative energy storage investments.

In this episode of the Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo speaks with Alex Livingston, president of Joule Case. Alex shares his journey from studying mechanical engineering at the University of Idaho to co-founding Joule Case, a company specializing in the development of stackable battery systems. He explains that the idea for Joule Case was inspired by the limitations of electric vehicles, particularly regarding recharge time and range. The company's battery system, which Alex refers to as "digital fuel," is designed to be flexible and adaptable, and capable of functioning in a variety of applications, from powering a generator replacement to mobility and more advanced use cases. Listen in to learn more about Joule Case's battery technology and its impact on grid capacity.

In this episode, host Bill Derasmo chats with Laura Pagliarulo, the president of SolaREIT, a renewable energy real estate investment company. Laura shares her journey from environmental enthusiast to SolaREIT co-founder, and explains the often-overlooked importance of real estate financing in the sector. Listen in to discover the unique challenges developers face, from securing financing to managing interconnection risks and increasing costs, and how SolaREIT offers efficient solutions to these real estate issues.

In this episode of the Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo interviews Jason Burwen, the Vice President of Policy and Strategy at GridStor. With a rich background in energy policy, Jason provides a unique perspective on the immense growth potential of the energy storage sector in the United States, and weighs in on the hot issues facing the California ISO market.

In this episode of the Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo is joined by John Kem, president of American Battery Factory (ABF). They discuss how ABF is redefining the domestic supply chain landscape and reviving large-scale battery manufacturing in the U.S. John, a career army officer with a background in engineering and environmental studies, offers insights into ABF's lithium-ion phosphate battery cell chemistry, explaining why they are safer, more environmentally friendly, and more suitable than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Listen in as they chat about ABF's mission, manufacturing process, and the future of battery technology.

In this episode, host Bill Derasmo chats with EPC Power's Director of Grid Integration Jason Barmann. They discuss Jason's career transition from power generation to energy storage, the role and importance of inverters in energy storage systems, and the advantages of EPC Power being a U.S.-based inverter manufacturer. They also touch on their predictions for the future of the energy storage market, the importance of reliability, and the advantages of the emerging hydrogen market.

We are kicking off season five of the Troutman Pepper Battery + Storage Podcast with an electrifying discussion of the evolution of the battery storage sector with host Bill Derasmo and Dr. Kai-Philipp Kairies, CEO of ACCURE Battery Intelligence. They explore the amazing advances in battery analytics and diagnostic tools championed by ACCURE. As grid-scale storage grows in size and scope, the analytic tools brought to the table by ACCURE will only become more valuable to owners and operators of grid-scale installations.

In the latest episode of our Battery + Storage Podcast, returning guest host Dan Anziska is joined by MJ Chandilya, CEO of Storm Energia. MJ provides an in-depth look into Storm Energia's mission and operations, centered around the safe, secure, and economically efficient recycling of EV and other lithium-ion batteries.Tune in as they discuss the unique approach of Storm Energia's eco-friendly mechanical process, compact facilities, and ambitious growth plans.

In this episode of the Troutman Pepper Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo is joined by Troutman Pepper Partners Anne Loomis and John Leonti to discuss the transformative effects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on the energy storage sector. They delve into the standalone storage investment tax credit (ITC), its implications for the storage sector, and its role in revolutionizing storage financing. The trio also explores new opportunities for tax-exempt owners and investors, the rise of transferability deals, the impact of the domestic content bonus, and more.

In this episode of the Battery + Storage Podcast, special guest host and Troutman Pepper Partner Dan Anziska is joined by Jay Bellows from U.S. battery company KORE Power, as well as Rick Pekala and Graeme Fraser-Bell from U.S. battery component company and equipment manufacturer ENTEK. Together, they discuss the world of battery manufacturing and domestication of the battery supply chain.Listen in as this energetic ensemble discusses the importance of domestic production, the role of separators in battery technology, and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on the industry. Our guests also highlight their companies' recent expansions and collaborations, and explore the future of the battery supply chain in the U.S.

In this episode of the Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo is joined by Don Wright, vice president of engineering at Unico. Don shares his journey from Michigan to Austria, and finally to Wisconsin, where he now leads Unico's engineering efforts. He discusses the company's role in testing and developing cutting-edge technology in the EV space, and the importance of battery testing in determining battery lifespan and health.Don also delves into the concept of a DC microgrid for testing more batteries at once without a huge infrastructure charge, and the potential for second-life batteries in this setup. He shares his insights on the future of battery chemistries, the challenges of solid-state batteries, and the potential of semi-solid-state batteries.

Join us as we power up a conversation with Dr. Matt Raiford and Dr. Alistair Davidson from the Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI). In this episode, we shed light on the often overlooked, yet pivotal role of lead batteries in our everyday lives and their potential in revolutionizing energy storage. Discover the sustainability triumphs of lead batteries, their unique advantages in grid-scale applications, and the fascinating science behind their operation.

In this episode, host Bill Derasmo is joined by George Koutsonicolis from SOLIC Capital Advisors, to discuss the growing global focus on energy storage, the role of battery storage in the renewable energy transition, and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on the sector. George also shares his insights into the challenges and trends in raising debt and equity in the storage sector, and the future of tax equity financing. The podcast also explores the differences in dealing with private-backed companies versus publicly traded ones, and the considerations for investing in hybrid resources, versus pure play storage.

This week, Bill Derasmo and Sakuu Senior Vice President of E-Mobility and Product Arwed Niestroj discuss Sakuu's transformative 3D-printing battery technology that enables customers to manufacture batteries with less capital expenditure, footprint, waste, and energy.Listen in as we delve into this disruptive technology and how it's reshaping the landscape of energy storage and unlocking new opportunities for the energy industry.

Get ready to plug into the electrifying mind of Nora Brownell. This week, Bill sits down with the former FERC commissioner and current partner at Clean Energy Ventures to discuss everything FERC-land and beyond.Listen in as they chat about the current regulatory landscape, storage market trends, and the challenges impacting the energy industry, including grid capacity and the need for balance between energy customers and investors.

With burgeoning EV sales, the transition to renewables, and IRA implementations, the need for battery-grade lithium is higher than ever. However, supply chain issues continue to slow down production, causing a major imbalance between supply and demand.This week, Bill Derasmo and Dr. Saad Dara discuss Mangrove Lithium's novel electrochemical refining process for producing battery-grade lithium, and how they turn overseas refining into a thing of the past.

Ready to geek out over exciting new battery chemistry? This week on the podcast, Bill talks all things residential storage with George Kuo, the senior director of products and solutions and product management at Canadian Solar.Learn how Canadian Solar and their subsidiaries transform the way homeowners consume and supply energy back to the grid, and how the IRA creates incentives for individual homeowners to add rooftop solar and storage.

Major players in the battery space thrive on the "what's next" factor, but for years, the focus has only been on cathodes. To level up battery technologies, a major change to the anode side is electrifying the industry.When it comes to Li-Metal, new anode technologies are helping them forge the future of batteries. Listen in as President Kunal Phalpher breaks down how Li-Metal is improving the process and technology to produce the lithium anodes and lithium metal needed by next generation batteries.

Our first episode of 2023 is here, and it's a heavy one. This week, Bill Derasmo talks with Forbes 30 Under 30 2022 winner and cofounder of Salient Energy, Ryan Brown. Tune in now to learn how Salient Energy uses zinc to create a safe, low-cost alternative to lithium-ion in the stationary space.

Can money be made off of parked cars? With vehicle-to-grid (V2X) technology, an EV can pay for itself. Even utilities can access V2X value streams if they're willing to embrace the change.From bidirectional technology to frequency regulation, join host Bill Derasmo and his guest Fermata Energy Founder and CEO David Slutzky as they discuss the ins and outs of Fermata's V2X technology and its impact on the auto and electric power industries.

When you think about electric vehicles (EV), the first thing that comes to mind is the brand name vehicle out on the road. But batteries are being used for more than just everyday EVs — and Electrovaya is working to make them safer and longer lasting.Listen in as host Bill Derasmo and his guest Electrovaya CEO Dr. Raj Dasgupta discuss innovations in the EV space, from ceramic separators to electric industrial vehicles operating 24 hours a day inside of distribution centers for many Fortune 500 companies.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is the most significant legislation related to climate change in U.S. history. With it comes significant tax implications for the clean energy industry, including renewables, storage, electric vehicles, and more.Join host Bill Derasmo and Troutman Pepper partners Judy Kwok and Marc Machlin as they break down the IRA and its effects across the energy sector.

With the ever-increasing production of electric vehicles and our continued dependence on lithium-ion batteries, one key question persists: What happens when a battery reaches its end of life?In this episode, host Bill Derasmo and his guest Megan O'Connor, CEO and co-founder of Nth Cycle, discuss Nth Cycle's modular technology that solves major challenges for recyclers and provides a greener alternative to today's chemical processes.

Over the past decade, there has been a significant push in investing in green and renewable technologies, particularly in battery, solar, and wind technologies. As a result, an increase in patent filings in this space has occurred, especially around battery technology as the transition to electric vehicles speeds up.In the first episode of our EV Tech Series, host Bill Derasmo and his guests, fellow Troutman Pepper Partners Greg Len and Frank Liu, discuss all things patent litigation — from concerns about current patent litigation to the public forums for patent litigation to green energy patent litigation trends. You don't want to miss their takeaways on the future of green energy patent litigation.

The lithium-ion battery space remains hot, and with breakthroughs like the use of silicone anodes and other innovations, it is poised for continued growth.In this episode, Bill Derasmo and his guest Connor Hund, the director of business strategy and operations for NanoGraf, discuss the advantages of silicon anodes, creating the world's most energy dense cylindrical battery cell, and what these advances mean for electric vehicles, medical equipment, consumer electronics, and even soldier-worn battery applications.

As the storage and renewables market continues to expand, new manufacturing facilities are popping up across the world every day. But with new facilities come new problems that some operators aren't prepared to handle. Enter Andy Klump and his team at Clean Energy Associates (CEA). Tune in as podcast host and Troutman Pepper Partner Bill Derasmo and his guest CEA CEO and Founder Andy Klump discuss storage buyer risks and rewards, the potential for retroactive ruling on anti-dumping, and insider tips on how to track and identify the right suppliers to avoid being bamboozled by manufacturers.

Supercharged and back online, Troutman Pepper's Battery + Storage Podcast kicks off Season Three with guest Bill Marsan, American Transmission Company executive vice president and general counsel. In this episode, podcast host and Troutman Pepper Partner Bill Derasmo sits down with his friend of over 20 years to talk about everything from black start units to Boston sports. They also examine the challenges facing transmission companies with FERC's aggressive new orders; where the industry is heading; and the construction of storage as transmission-only assets (SATOA).

In this episode, Bill speaks with Kelcy Pegler, the CEO of FlexGen, a North Carolina-based leading energy storage technology solutions and services provider that delivers advisory, product technology, and operational maintenance services. The podcast explores the similarities between the emerging battery storage market and the solar market of years past, the role of battery storage as a platform that enables the energy transition, how the ways in which utilities can make energy storage work for them, and much more. Don't miss Kelcy's inspirational introspection that led him to launch FlexGen — spoiler alert — part of it involves his young children.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

In Episode 2, the Battery + Storage team interviews Mike Hopkins, CEO of Bakken Midstream, who is, objectively, destined for immortality on “Storage Mt. Rushmore;” (2:40), (although, as he adamantly tells the team, he is still, very much “alive”). While focusing on storage, Mike provides a 360 degree view of the evolution of North American energy markets including his intimate background with the Canadian natural gas industry in Alberta (6:30), and how that experience shaped his thoughts about the role of government and regulatory intervention in markets (in particular, with respect to California's involvement in fostering the in-state battery and storage markets)(16:00). He says that if government intervention is required they should “. . . as soon as possible, return to what I would think of as normal regulatory policy which is about ensuring that resources are fully valued and the value is efficiently extracted.” The podcast covers how the Energy Storage Act in California was revolutionary for storage, taking the asset from an R&D concept to the facilitator of a tradable commodity. We hear about Mike's experience as a first-mover storage proponent with Ice Energy in SCE's revolutionary 2014 all-source RFP, his views on the future of project finance and PPAs for battery resources, his views on how battery project development is funded in 2019 (and investor risk assessments of the same efforts), the future of repeatable C&I battery deployment (like rooftop solar), the importance of communication and control systems on the distribution grid to facilitate commercial values (and the need for price transparency), the necessity of reflecting customer demand in product development, and details regarding ICE Energy's storage technology and its market success.

In this episode of the Battery & Storage Podcast partners Cliff Sikora and Bill Derasmo interview Hon. Philip D. Moeller, Executive Vice President Edison Electric Institute (EEI).The episode covers:Commissioner Moeller's dedication to the values of public service (4:15)the importance of relationships and courtesy in Washington, DC (5:44)his view of industry restructuring while at FERC (9:00) partisanship (15:40)EEI's position on how batteries should be classified as either transmission or distribution, and the launch of Order No. 841 (17:28)approval of FERC's direction (even with no state opt-out) (18:58)understanding of differences in regional system peaks (19:29)batteries are the ultimate “utility infielder;” and require flexibility in regulatory oversight (20:01)view on FERC's transmission's NOI and the future of CAPEX deployment and RTO planning (21:35)the success of MISO's MVP projects (24:00)ownership of batteries and control of functionality, microgrids (27:37)electric vehicles (34:03)non-discrimination requirements for storage access to markets (28:45)and environmental justice (29:12)