Study finds major problems in battery storage systems’ operation

For its “BESS Pros Survey”, battery analysis software maker Twaice surveyed experts about their biggest concerns in the commercial operation of battery storage systems (BESS). System performance and availability concerned the battery professionals the most. They also highlighted technical issues interrupting day-to-day operations as a problem.

The evaluation can be found on two dozen pages in the report “BESS Pros Survey: What Matters Most to BESS Professionals Today”. According to Twaice, the interviews conducted from October to December 2024 show that “there are recurring problems for BESS in industry that prevent the systems from achieving their full potential.”

In total, 83 BESS engineers, technicians, managers and operators were featured in the survey. When asked about the most important challenges in their everyday work, 58% of respondents said the performance and availability of the battery storage. More than a third (34%) reported data management and integration as their biggest worry, while a similar percentage (31%) identified degradation and lifetime management as their main concerns. Guarantee and contract management was an important topic for 29%. Safety and risks such as cooling problems or the risk of thermal passage was the main issue for 27%. Lastly, 20% of respondents mentioned operations and maintenance teams as their number one concern.

Technical problems in BESS are obviously not uncommon. Just under half (46%) of all respondents said they are confronted with technical issues at least once a month. The value increases significantly with proximity to everyday operations, namely to 53% for investment managers and to 73% for operating and maintenance employees.

Only 55% are satisfied with the technologies and tools used for their respective system. According to Twaice, the still growing BESS industry has not yet found the optimal “tech stack”, which operators would have to “operate with a variety of different solutions for a wide range of areas”. At the same time, there was “a growing understanding of the fact that the successful operation of BESS requires in-depth analysis, management and optimization functions.” The battery and energy management “presented by traditional OEM battery suppliers” could “possibly not offer such functions”.

Twaice sees an increasing demand for its own products. The battery analysis software provider said BESS data and its analysis are essential for operation. There is “high catching up to do, but also great potential,” Stephen Rohr, founder and member of Twaice’s management team said.

From pv magazine Deutschland