Jun 9, 2025
Battery storage is booming — but how does it really work, and
why does it matter?
In this episode of the Fully Charged Show Podcast, Imogen sits down with Ed Porter from @modoenergy one of the UK's leading experts on battery energy storage systems (BESS), to demystify the critical role batteries are already playing in balancing the grid — and what’s still to come. From frequency regulation and price arbitrage to blackouts and the path to clean power by 2030, we explore how grid-scale batteries are transforming our energy system faster than you think. Ed shares his insights on:
In this episode of the Fully Charged Show Podcast, Imogen sits down with Ed Porter from @modoenergy one of the UK's leading experts on battery energy storage systems (BESS), to demystify the critical role batteries are already playing in balancing the grid — and what’s still to come. From frequency regulation and price arbitrage to blackouts and the path to clean power by 2030, we explore how grid-scale batteries are transforming our energy system faster than you think. Ed shares his insights on:
- Why batteries are replacing gas in grid services — and slashing costs.
- What dynamic frequency response actually means
- How the UK went from 0 to 5.3 GW of battery storage — and where we go from here
- Why the “1.5-hour” battery duration isn't a limitation, but a smart design choice
- How we plan to survive “Dunkelflaute” and keep the lights on in winter.
01:01 Ad Break
01:16 Modo Energy
04:09 Why do we need Grid Scale Batteries?
06:07 Batteries and frequency in the system
09:07 80% Cost reduction vs gas!
12:17 Are we deploying batteries fast enough?
16:09 1.5 hour battery duration?!
19:02 What about “Dunkelflaute”?! and a note on
CCUS...
26:00 Decoupling the cost of electricity from
gas?!
29:13 A whole new system?
37:15 Should energy be free?!
40:53 Negative pricing
43:26 What the UK can learn from Texas
46:00 Please like and subscribe!
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Why are our episodes now sponsored? https://fullycharged.show/blog/dan-caesar-on-x-insta-youtube-and-why-we-made-a-contro[…]s-on-fully-charged-everything-electric-electric-vehicles-uk/
Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff
Become a Fully Charged SHOW Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow
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To partner, exhibit or sponsor at our award-winning expos email: commercial@fullycharged.show
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