ALISO VIEJO, CA (June 18, 2025) - (Energy Storage News)-- BESS technology continues to advance, but the energy industry needs to change its thinking about O&M to capture the full potential, writes Jeremy Williams of IHI Power Services.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are rapidly becoming a foundational component of the renewable energy transition. Their ability to store and dispatch energy from intermittent sources such as wind and solar makes them indispensable to a more flexible, resilient grid.
However, while BESS technologies have advanced considerably in recent years, reliability depends on far more than the sophistication of their hardware and software. The key to long-term performance lies in how well these assets are maintained.
Despite their growing prominence, BESS facilities are still widely misunderstood - particularly when it comes to operations and maintenance (O&M). Too often, these high-value systems are mistaken for self-sustaining technologies that require minimal oversight.
The idea that they can operate on a "set it and forget it" model persists, with some assuming routine software updates and remote diagnostics are enough to keep everything running smoothly. In reality, that mindset leads to premature degradation, costly equipment failures and preventable downtime.
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