Software / AI

EMS for Stationary Storages What is an EMS The Energy Management System is the central software tool in a BESS responsible operational management of the BESS by collecting data from all available sensors and dispatching it based on commands from the grid, optimization or manual input. To achieve this, it coordinates hardware and software components like PCS, HVAC, BMS, fire suppression system and batteries. The costs for the EMS system is around 1% of the CAPEX of the entire system.

Energy Management Systems Ems - Hardware Agnostic

EMS Modularity: The bankruptcy of system integrator Powin in early 2025 highlighted the fact that a BESS is not only a collection of hardware components, but also a variety of software tools which need to operate flawlessly to ensure stable operation. Retrofitting or upgrading of existing EMS installations in BESS is evolving and makes up to 20% of the overall business for some players. Many EMS providers are hardware-agnostic, some are also system integrators. Grid Forming Requirements: Developments by different regulatory bodies (NERC, MISO, EU, IEEE) require BESS to provide more and more grid forming services, a step up from grid following only. This requires the EMS to handle additional complexity due to more sophisticated inverter controls software. Cybersecurity: Important frameworks to consider are NIST 80053 and NERC CIP, especially NERC CIP015 requiring real-time security network monitoring and mandatory since this year, and IEC 62443.

Hardware-specific

EMS in the BESS tech stack

HVAC

EMS

PCS

Scheduler* The EMS is evolving from a simple control tool to a multi function orchestration layer (forecast, dispatch, grid forming support, market bidding and optimisation), which makes it increasingly relevant for BESS success and and critical to ensure cyber security for grid stability.

BMS SCADA information/ control

data

* can be part of the EMS

Extracted from the PDF; charts and images may read imperfectly.