You’re part of our consulting team. What personally appealed to you about providing consultancy support for energy storage projects rather than ‘just’ implementing them from a technical perspective?
I enjoy direct contact with customers. That’s the best way to identify where challenges arise and what support is actually needed. I think the feedback from projects also helps us to further develop our technical products.
When you think back to your first projects at NOVUM, what surprised you most, either professionally or personally?
I knew that the energy storage sector was still in its infancy, but I was still surprised by just how much guidance people actually need when choosing a suitable BESS (Battery Energy Storage System). Unfortunately, there are many unscrupulous operators in the industry, where hidden performance shortcomings can mean that a business case that looks convincing on paper turns out to be significantly worse in practice. I’m pleased that we can help to avoid such mistakes. I was also surprised by how commercially unattractive green energy storage systems still are at present. I think that’s a shame, as I believe they are a crucial building block for greater independence in Germany’s energy supply. I would like to see more political incentives in this area.
You previously worked in the photovoltaic sector and are now also involved with BESS. What experience from the PV sector helps you today in understanding and evaluating BESS projects?
The framework conditions are very similar, particularly when it comes to issues such as permits, certifications, connection requirements, and safety and fire protection. Ultimately, in both cases we are dealing with power generation facilities that need to be connected to the grid. There are also clear parallels in terms of economic assessment, as the business case ultimately determines whether a project goes ahead or not. Everyone wants the energy transition, but nobody wants to lose money in the process. That is entirely understandable and, in my view, the decisive factor for the success of the energy transition.
When selecting suppliers for large-scale storage: In your view, which criteria are often underestimated?
These are aspects that do not appear in the data sheets. These include, for example, calibration and balancing times. Equally important is the seemingly simple question of what data a BESS records and how I, as the owner, can access it independently of the manufacturer. Furthermore, the system should have been on the market for some time. Ideally, the manufacturer should be able to provide a dataset showing the BESS’s actual performance over several weeks. At NOVUM, we can learn a great deal about the quality of the BESS from such datasets. If they cannot do this, alarm bells usually start ringing for us.
In your view, during which project phases do the greatest risks arise for investors, operators or project developers, and how can these risks be identified at an early stage and systematically minimised?
The key question is: does the storage system actually deliver in operation what it promised on paper? And if not, how can I enforce my claims for defects against the manufacturer? There are therefore two key aspects: firstly, selecting the right supplier, and secondly, drafting the contract. When selecting a supplier, one should start early on to identify hidden performance flaws and verify these using real-world field data from a BESS of identical construction. Paper is patient, but data does not lie. The contract must clearly define the circumstances under which the manufacturer can be held liable for defects, and to what extent. There are as yet no established standards in this area, and each manufacturer is more or less flexible in this regard. Independent recording and analysis of BESS performance is essential to be able to clearly demonstrate deviations from the contractually agreed values. It is advisable to supplement manufacturer data with independent measurements and analyses.
What do you particularly appreciate about working with clients on complex storage projects?
Most customers are open to and grateful for our help in choosing the BESS. It’s naturally enjoyable and wonderful to see the end result: a BESS that works exactly as the customer had imagined. I, too, learn something new with every project, especially when it’s technically challenging. I enjoy challenges like that.
What topic outside of the energy sector are you interested in right now?
I find it fascinating to see how the AI sector is developing at the moment, particularly when you want to find information quickly or summarise texts. I’m using tools like Gemini more and more often, both in my personal and professional life. Although we’re not yet 100% error-free, I find the level we’ve reached so far absolutely remarkable . When I want to switch off completely, I do so by going for a walk in the countryside or by making music on the computer – both activities that I’m passionate about outside the tech world.
