Episode 902

902: Why Most Grid-Scale Batteries (BESS) Underperform - And How to Fix It Before It Costs Millions

Published on: 21st February, 2026

Battery storage is scaling fast.

But scaling portfolios exposes weaknesses most owners never see coming.

As projects move from single sites to gigawatt-hour fleets, many IPPs discover something uncomfortable: they have dashboards - but not decision-grade visibility.

In this Episode, Lennart Hinrichs, EVP and General Manager of the Americas at TWAICE, explains what actually changes once batteries begin operating at scale.

We discuss:

  1. Why state of charge (SOC) is foundational — but insufficient
  2. How LFP chemistry complicates measurement more than most assume
  3. What derating really does to revenue and dispatch confidence
  4. Why overbuild can mask deeper performance issues
  5. What actually causes most battery fires (and what doesn’t)
  6. How data transparency reshapes warranty disputes and financial risk

This isn’t a founder story.

It’s a practical conversation for asset owners, operators, and performance engineers who want fewer surprises over the life of their storage assets.

If you operate or finance battery projects, this episode will sharpen how you think about KPIs, safety, and operational confidence.

Listen in.

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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About the Podcast

SunCast
Your resource for developing a clean energy or climate tech career
Nico Johnson takes you into conversations with those at the forefront of Renewable Energy.

SunCast gives an inside look into what is happening in renewable energy. From conversations with the biggest Solar Panel manufacturers in the world to the small startups creating the future of renewable energy, such as carbon capture and battery technology breakthroughs.

SunCast is dedicated to providing the knowledge, research, tools and expert guidance you need to understand, grow and be ahead of the curve in the fastest-growing markets in the world.

Featuring over 800 conversations, Nico has interviewed people from Tesla, SolarCity, Trina Solar, Meyer Burger, Conergy, SunEdison, Energy Vault and even the US Government... to name a few. Covering topics such as Solar Power, Wind Energy, Batteries, Electric Vehicles, Carbon Capture, Finance, Hydrogen, and more.

You can watch SunCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SunCastMedia

...or view the full archive of SunCast episodes here: https://www.suncast.media/media/podcast