At the inaugural Solar & Storage Live España, Leon Gosh, Founder and Managing Director of Cellect Energy, spoke to Solar&StorageXtra about the evolving role of energy storage in the renewable energy sector.
He also discussed the key challenges of operating battery energy storage systems (BESS) and shared his excitement about the growing Spanish solar market.
“The solar and wind markets have matured over decades, but energy storage introduces complexities that operators and marketers must navigate.”
Interview with Leon Gosh, Founder and Managing Director of Cellect Energy
Xtra: What is Cellect Energy’s role in the industry?
Leon: Cellect Energy focuses on overcoming challenges in operating utility-scale energy storage systems. We believe energy storage is the key to a 100% renewable energy landscape, but its rapid expansion presents new hurdles.
Our approach is to develop innovative solutions, primarily software-as-a-service products, combined with hardware, to simplify operations for asset managers in the energy storage sector.
Xtra: How will your presentation at Solar & Storage Live in Barcelona address the challenges facing the BESS industry?
Leon: My presentation will focus on the challenges of operating battery energy storage assets compared to more established technologies like solar and wind. The solar and wind markets have matured over decades, but energy storage introduces complexities that operators and marketers must navigate.
We’ve identified four key challenges:
Complex site integration: Connecting battery systems to monitoring and management solutions differs vastly from solar and wind. Each technology requires deep technical and IT knowledge to ensure no critical data points are missed.
Diverse stakeholders: Unlike solar and wind, energy storage involves a wider range of players, including direct marketers, O&M service providers, financial asset managers, and now reserve providers and optimisation startups. Multi-market optimisation – combining ancillary services with energy trading – adds another layer of complexity, requiring seamless collaboration between various partners.
Complex warranties: Unlike solar, where operations are dictated by sunlight, battery systems require active management. Poor operation can significantly reduce a battery’s lifespan. Performance warranties are crucial, often spanning 10–20 years, and come with strict operational conditions.
Deviation from these conditions can void warranties, affecting financial viability. At Cellect, we offer a specialised battery performance warranty tracker and forecasting model to automate warranty compliance.
Big data management: Battery storage generates vast amounts of data—billions of data points daily. Traditional asset management platforms built for solar and wind often struggle with this volume. Our solution ensures scalability, economic efficiency, and seamless integration to prevent data overload issues.
Xtra: What products has Cellect brought to the show?
Leon: Our booth highlights our flagship product, the Cellect Platform, a dedicated asset management solution for utility-scale battery storage. Many existing platforms were designed for solar and wind and struggle to adapt to battery storage.
We’ve spent three years focusing exclusively on this niche, ensuring our platform meets the unique demands of the sector.
Alongside the Cellect Platform, we offer:
- Cellect Box – an on-site control cabinet for data aggregation and control.
- Cellect Control – a software-as-a-service product for wholesale and balancing market applications.
We don’t provide multi-market optimisation ourselves but instead build a strong partner network with optimisation companies, ensuring a seamless, plug-and-play experience for our clients.
Xtra: Why has Cellect Energy chosen to attend Solar & Storage Live España?
Leon Gosh: As a Barcelona-headquartered company, we’re excited to have a major industry event in our home city. Though I’m originally from Germany, I’ve lived in Barcelona for six years, and it’s an incredible place for a startup, offering an international and innovative environment.
This event signals the growth of Spain’s solar and storage market. While the UK remains the biggest market, Barcelona’s selection as a host city highlights Spain’s increasing role in the industry.
We’re here to expand our partner network and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of energy storage.
With the London edition of Solar & Storage Live only weeks away, don’t forget to register for your free ticket and join us at the London ExCeL from 2-3 April 2025 – or find a Solar & Storage Live event closer to home.
