Is your BESS missing revenue? Your software might be stuck in the past

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) aren’t just about storing energy anymore. They’re revenue-generating assets that need to operate like active players in fast-moving markets.  

And those markets are still evolving. New revenue streams, incentives, and market rules are emerging rapidly, and no one knows which business models will win in the long term. For BESS operators, the ability to adapt quickly is critical for staying competitive. 

Yet many batteries are still stuck in “set and forget mode”, using software that wasn’t built for dynamic participation.  

That’s a problem because today’s markets are rich with opportunity. But in order to tap into it, you need software and a strategy that can keep up. 

There's more revenue out there than you think 

Five years ago, it was common to make money from BESS through fixed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) or simple price arbitrage: charge when prices are low, discharge when they’re high. That was the playbook. 

But energy storage has come a long way since then. As batteries become more sophisticated, they’re being used to solve more complex challenges: balancing intermittent renewables, responding to extreme price volatility, and providing fast-response services that other assets simply can’t. 

This evolution opens the door to new revenue streams. Storage can now earn in multiple ways at once: from ancillary services like frequency response to capacity payments, co-optimized trading, curtailment avoidance, and more.  

This is called revenue stacking, and it’s one of the biggest opportunities in energy storage today. By embracing this approach, BESS operators can make more money, reduce financial risk, and stay competitive as the energy market changes. 

So why aren’t more batteries doing this? 

Older BESS software systems were designed for a simpler market, tracking basic price signals and charging/discharging on a fixed schedule. 

But today’s storage markets demand more. 

Modern BESS software needs to do more than just follow fixed schedules. It must forecast market conditions, coordinate multiple services at once, and respond instantly to changes on site and in the market. That’s the only way to tap into the full earning potential of your assets without compromising the health of the battery. 

Just like hardware needs upgrades and maintenance, your BESS strategy—and the tech behind it—needs to evolve. 

Hybrid sites add complexity...and opportunity 

This is especially true for operators managing co-located solar or wind with storage, where capturing value from storage assets gets even more complex. The battery can’t just charge and discharge based on electricity prices. It must be able to respond to generation swings, curtailment risk, and make split-second decisions that align with both interconnection rules and a slew of market incentives. 

Without the right solutions, it’s almost impossible to balance that in real-time while keeping financial performance in focus.  

What should your BESS software be doing? 

If you want to get the most out of your storage investments, your software needs to give you the visibility and flexibility to think and act like an energy trader. 

That means being able to: 

1. Uncover revenue you’re missing 
If your BESS is only doing arbitrage, what other services could it be earning from? Frequency response, peak shaving, or capacity markets? These may be within reach with the right setup. 

2. Spot financial blind spots 
You can’t improve what you can’t see. Your software should help you identify where your BESS is underperforming financially and highlight which services you could be earning from but aren’t. 

3. Handle hybrid site complexity in real time 
At hybrid sites, your system needs to respond instantly to things like generation swings or curtailment risk. Without real-time automation, you could be missing out on key revenue moments.  

Take control of your storage strategy 

Your Energy Management System (EMS) software should give you the situational awareness and control you need to make real-time decisions. Whether that’s maximizing arbitrage, stacking new services, or managing the complexity of hybrid sites. With the right EMS in place, your BESS stops running in the background and starts performing like the revenue asset it was meant to be.