Factor This How utilities are transitioning from short-term battery applications to long-term BESS planning
Feb 23, 2026
Brian Fellon, Senior VP of Power Solutions at Expansive, brings energy markets and trading experience to utility-scale battery planning. He discusses why digital control and algorithms are becoming central to battery value. He covers scaling from pilots to gigawatt storage, pairing batteries with renewables for firm power, and using storage to manage volatile demand and avoid costly grid upgrades.
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From Hardware To A Digital Layer
- The industry is shifting from focusing on how much storage to how well storage is operated.
- Brian Fellon highlights a move from "dumb hardware" to a digital layer that maximizes battery economics in real time.
Career Path From Gas Trader To Storage Software
- Brian Fellon recounts his transition from oil and gas engineering to algorithmic trading and then to commercializing digital solutions for renewables.
- He built dispatch desks across ISOs and says computers became central as markets grew more dynamic.
Battery Value Hinges On Rapid Algorithmic Decisions
- Batteries require constant, multi-variable decisions about when to charge, discharge, and provide ancillary services.
- Fellon stresses forecasting complexity across weather, demand, and five-minute real-time ISO prices, making algorithms essential.