Battery energy storage systems (BESS) risk turning into financial and operational liabilities if they lack intelligent control layers, despite growing investor interest in the sector, warned Marc-André Micke, Chief Commercial Officer of PowerKonnekt. He argued that the market continues to overemphasize the “3C” model (container, capacity and CAPEX) while largely ignoring the component that actually generates value: the Energy Management System (EMS).
“If a BESS does not include intelligence, you are not holding an asset, but a liability,” he said at the “Cell to Revenue: Strategy & Investment Outlook” conference, organized by Energynomics with the support of SolarToday Romania, Jinko ESS, Power Konnekt, and Sinexcel.
The real value emerges only when systems can decide when, how and why energy should be dispatched. In this architecture, the EMS plays a central role, acting not only as the “heart” of the storage installation but of the broader energy ecosystem. Micke highlighted a recurring issue in project development, namely the confusion between EMS and SCADA systems.
While SCADA platforms monitor and react to system conditions, EMS solutions anticipate and optimize operations, enabling real-time decision-making.
“With SCADA you observe what is happening; with EMS you decide what to do next,” Micke explained, noting that this distinction is often overlooked in projects that later underperform commercially.
Beyond optimization, Micke reframed EMS as a monetization engine rather than a monitoring tool. By leveraging “smart data” instead of just large data volumes, such systems can continuously determine the most profitable use of assets across applications such as peak shaving, energy trading or virtual power plants. This capability is critical for both increasing and securing revenues, which ultimately defines the return on investment for BESS projects.
DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION OF MARC-ANDRE MICKE
Micke also stressed the importance of scalability, arguing that future success will depend on platforms capable of integrating different technologies, hardware suppliers and regulatory frameworks across multiple markets, while maintaining a unified control logic. In this context, PowerKonnekt positions its platform as a solution designed to orchestrate solar generation, storage and grid interaction into a single system that enhances both technical and commercial performance.
The “Cell to Revenue: Strategy & Investment Outlook” conference was organized by Energynomics, with support from sponsors SolarToday Romania, Jinko ESS, Power Konnekt, and Sinexcel.