851: Batteries vs. Peakers: [Revisiting] How Fluence Is Redefining the Grid

“Storage Was Never Just an Add-On” What if we’ve been thinking too small about batteries? In this rebroadcast from RE+, Kiran Kumaraswamy , former VP of Growth at Fluence, makes a bold case for reimagining energy storage—not just as a renewable add-on, but as a foundational tool for grid transformation . Kiran breaks down how the energy storage sector evolved from supporting solar to replacing gas peakers, enhancing transmission, and becoming central to resiliency planning . Long before the IRA supercharged the market, he was urging utilities and regulators to rethink what batteries could do—and now, we’re seeing those ideas implemented at scale. From the Inflation Reduction Act’s massive market tailwinds to the rise of virtual transmission, this conversation is loaded with strategy, foresight, and tactical insight for storage developers, grid planners, and policy leaders alike. Expect to learn: 🔹 Why peaker replacement was the battery industry’s first killer app 🔹 How Fluence is positioning storage as critical transmission infrastructure 🔹 What the IRA’s standalone ITC means for decoupling storage from solar 🔹 How domestic manufacturing and supply diversification are shaping the next phase of growth For more conversations like this, be sure to come visit us at the PowerUp Live Stage next week at RE+ in Las Vegas! Whether you’re deep in the weeds of development or just curious about the future of grid reliability, this is one of those “listen again” episodes. Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/ . Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America ! You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors . Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media . Subscribe to Valence , our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/ You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on: Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus