Data analytics ‘predict anomalies weeks before they escalate into safety or downtime issues’ at BESS sites

Cloud-based analytics from providers such as ACCURE and rival TWAICE—also headquartered in Germany with a US presence—are designed to monitor battery assets at the cell level.

This enables asset owners to have a much better degree of visibility into the performance and health of their systems, from predicting when batteries could experience issues like thermal runaway to ensuring their availability to capture market opportunities.

ACCURE’s software solution was recently onboarded to a 90MW fleet of standalone BESS assets in Germany for Iqony, a renewable energy subsidiary of utility Steag. It was also selected in New Mexico, US, by Spanish energy company Repsol, to continuously monitor a 20MW/80MWh BESS project, as reported by Energy-Storage.news last month.

Cloud-based data analytics software can enable more proactive maintenance and operation of battery storage systems than battery management system (BMS) technologies provided by OEMs, Kairies claimed.    

“While a BMS is essential for maintaining a battery within its immediate operating limits—preventing overcharging or deep discharging—it isn’t equipped to detect subtle performance changes or predict future issues like underperformance or thermal runaway,” the CEO said.

ACCURE’s analytics leverage a “vast database” and use physics-based and artificial intelligence (AI) models of batteries to provide insights that go beyond the scope of the BMS or even the monitoring solutions that some BESS system integrators now offer, Kairies claimed.

“Our cloud-based analytics can pinpoint battery anomalies weeks before they escalate into dangerous situations or costly downtime,” a predictive capability that “enables proactive maintenance and optimisation,” he said.

Enhanced insurance through analytics

That ultimately impacts on both the longevity and profitability of battery storage systems, and one concrete example of this is the recent moves into BESS insurance that both ACCURE and competitor TWAICE have made.

Earlier this year, UK-headquartered energy storage investor Gore Street Capital’s Energy Storage Fund deployed the predictive analytics solution at large-scale project sites.

Working in collaboration with insurance broker PIB and insurer HDI Global, Gore Street was able to get improved insurance terms on an initial two projects, with plans to onboard the software to more of its portfolio. Representatives of all four parties appeared on an Energy-Storage.news webinar in May to discuss how the deals came about and what their impact might be.

Meanwhile TWAICE partnered with energy and infrastructure specialist insurer NARDAC in June to provide improved insurance terms to BESS assets by pairing analytics with existing passive mitigation strategies.

At the time, TWAICE noted that despite a continued decline in failure rates for BESS projects worldwide, thermal runaway events can nonetheless be severe and result in high-cost insurance claims. Using analytics to predict and prevent such issues can reduce exposure to that risk, it said.

CEO Kai-Philipp Kairies told Energy-Storage.news the insurance deal with Gore Street is one of the signifiers of that shift towards deeper integration of analytics into daily operation.

“By leveraging cloud-based analytics to enhance safety and operational transparency, we can offer clients more favourable insurance terms,” Kairies said.

Another example the CEO gave is that ACCURE’s state of charge (SoC) correction feature is being integrated into some of the trading platforms operated by BESS optimisers and route-to-market providers. Kairies claimed this allows optimisers to make more accurate trading decisions, “significantly boosting their top line revenue”.

“By providing precise SoC data, traders can make informed decisions, capitalise on market opportunities, and avoid penalties associated with inaccurate energy dispatch.”

Safety first, but revenues are important too

Although ACCURE has long touted its platform’s ability to prevent fires, as noted above, thermal runaway events are thankfully rare. Kairies says the “more immediate and tangible benefit” of its analytics is enhancing performance and increasing revenue.

“Batteries are complex systems where optimal performance depends on the seamless interaction of numerous components. In practice, we often observe that batteries are not operating at their full potential due to issues like cell imbalance, SoC inaccuracies, or reversible capacity loss,” Kairies said.

“By proactively identifying and addressing these issues through our advanced monitoring, operators can realise significant top-line revenue gains – often in the range of 5–15%. This not only improves the return on investment for the battery assets but also opens new market opportunities by enabling the batteries to perform more efficiently and reliably in various applications.”

Different markets need different analytics solutions

On the latest deals in Germany and the US, which add to a portfolio of more than 40 large-scale BESS assets ACCURE monitors alongside work in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, the CEO commented that the analytics solution needs to be tailored to the needs of the different markets.

“For instance, in Germany, early large-scale storage systems were primarily focused on primary reserve control, an ancillary service requiring numerous small charge-discharge cycles with minimal full cycles,” Kairies said, contrasting with the “increasing prevalence of fully merchant systems in other regions” of Europe.

Meanwhile the US, which is a patchwork of different RTO, ISO and state-level markets, there is also significant diversity in operational principles.

“Systems in ERCOT (Texas) are designed and operated differently from those in CAISO (California) or PJM (Mid-Atlantic), reflecting variations in market structures, regulatory environments, and grid demands,” he said.

Analytics solutions must, therefore, be adapted to the different operational profiles and revenue models of different markets. Kairies gave the example that ACCURE provides recommendations on managing cell imbalances or optimised charge-discharge strategies which are based on the dynamics of local markets and application requirements.

Taking the examples of the Germany and ERCOT markets, Kairies highlighted the major differences in applications and revenue models that BESS operators face and for which he claimed data analytics can help them capture opportunities and mitigate risks.

“In Germany, where projects often generate revenue through ancillary services like frequency regulation, key metrics include reliability, uptime, and response time. As backups to the grid, batteries providing frequency response control need to be available at all times, with hefty fines applied if a battery cannot fulfil a request. Additionally, the speed at which the system can react to grid signals is critical; rapid response is required by grid operators to serve the market effectively,” Kai-Philipp Kairies said.

“In Texas, on the other hand, BESS projects focus on capturing rare but highly profitable market opportunities. In 2023, a significant percentage of annual revenues for BESS in ERCOT came from just a few days. This means that batteries need to be fully operational during these critical periods. By fine-tuning issues like imbalance and reducing (SoC) errors, BESS owners and operators can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to their revenue—or risk losing it if they operate their assets in less-than-optimal ways.”