A battery only earns its keep when it can connect to the grid and get to work. What does it take to turn better battery technology into a viable energy project? In episode 373 of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague speaks with Dr. Simon Engelke, founder of Battery Associates and Battery MBA and host of the Battery Insiders podcast. They explore the technology, economics, and expertise needed to scale storage across the grid, transportation, and emerging industries. Drawing on his Cambridge PhD in lithium-ion batteries and his work advising and training industry professionals, Simon explains why chemistry is only part of the story. Utilization, manufacturing scale, maintenance, investor confidence, and grid access all shape whether a battery project succeeds. Tim and Simon discuss: • Stationary storage and mobility: where Simon sees demand growing and how vehicle-to-grid programs can put parked EV batteries to work • Battery technology explained: LFP and NMC cathodes, silicon anodes, sodium-ion batteries, and what changes when the electrolyte becomes solid • Manufacturing scale: why increasing production can drive battery costs down through learning and process improvements • Vanadium flow batteries: Tim raises G&W Electric's experience, while Simon discusses pump and seal failures he has encountered and the challenge of proving a bankable business case • Project economics: why cycling, utilization, operating reliability, and a track record matter to developers and investors • Interconnection bottlenecks: Simon describes investors in Germany ready to deploy batteries that cannot yet connect, leaving assets idle while they continue to age • U.S. manufacturing: Simon's view that repurposing automotive battery factories could temporarily expand stationary storage supply, with EV demand changing that equation • New applications: how data centers, drones, humanoid robots, and electric aviation are expanding the conversation beyond solar and EVs • Battery careers: why engineers, solar professionals, business leaders, and people from other disciplines need to understand the full battery value chain • Inside Battery MBA: a 12-week online program built around live industry experts, office hours, and collaborative case studies, with group enrollment options for employers Simon also shares a Battery MBA case study exploring how a data center battery could serve both as backup power and as storage for an island grid. His message to professionals: start with the skills you enjoy using, then look for where they can contribute to the battery industry. For solar, storage, and microgrid professionals, this conversation connects battery innovation with the practical decisions behind project deployment, workforce development, and long-term business strategy. Learn more about Simon Engelke: Dr. Simon Engelke | LinkedIn Battery Associates | Training, Consulting & Insights BatteryMBA | CPD-Accredited Battery Course All Battery Insiders podcast episodes Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com
