Choosing the right storage EMS (Energy Management System) is one of the most critical decisions for any energy storage project. The storage EMS is the brain of your battery system; it controls when to charge, when to discharge, and how to maximize revenue across multiple value streams. A poor choice can leave money on the table for the entire life of your asset.
In this guide, we walk through the key factors to evaluate when selecting the best storage EMS for your project.
What Is a Storage EMS?
A storage EMS; also called a battery EMS or energy storage energy management system; is software that optimizes the operation of battery energy storage systems (BESS). It handles real-time dispatch decisions, communicates with inverters and battery management systems, and coordinates with grid operators and market signals.
Unlike basic SCADA systems that only monitor and report, a storage EMS actively controls the battery to maximize economic value while maintaining safety and warranty compliance.
Key Criteria for Evaluating a Storage EMS
1. Real-Time Dispatch Capability
The best storage EMS solutions make dispatch decisions in real-time, not on fixed schedules. Look for systems that can respond to changing grid conditions, price signals, and load patterns within seconds. Edge computing capability is essential; if the EMS relies solely on cloud connectivity, a network outage means your battery sits idle.
2. Revenue Optimization and Stacking
Modern energy storage projects depend on stacking multiple revenue streams: demand charge reduction, time-of-use (TOU) arbitrage, frequency regulation, capacity payments, and more. The best storage EMS can optimize across all these value streams simultaneously, not just one at a time.
3. Hardware Agnosticism
Your storage EMS should work with any battery manufacturer, inverter, or balance-of-plant equipment. Proprietary lock-in limits your procurement options and creates risk if a manufacturer exits the market or changes product lines. Look for support across protocols like Modbus RTU/TCP, DNP3, MQTT, and REST APIs.
4. Edge + Cloud Architecture
The ideal architecture combines edge computing for real-time control with cloud analytics for fleet management and AI insights. Edge ensures uptime during network interruptions, while cloud provides portfolio-level visibility, reporting, and optimization updates.
5. Grid Compliance and Certification
Your battery EMS must comply with interconnection standards like IEEE 1547 and UL 1741. It should support grid services including frequency regulation, voltage support, and demand response programs required by your utility or ISO.
6. Warranty Protection
An overlooked but critical feature: the storage EMS should actively manage battery health to maintain manufacturer warranties. This includes monitoring state-of-health, managing depth-of-discharge limits, and preventing operating conditions that void warranty terms.
Common Mistakes When Selecting a Storage EMS
- Choosing based on upfront cost alone; A cheaper EMS that captures 10% less revenue will cost you far more over the project lifetime than a premium solution that optimizes dispatch.
- Assuming SCADA is enough; SCADA monitors; an EMS controls. Without active optimization, you are leaving revenue on the table.
- Ignoring scalability; If you plan to build a portfolio, choose an EMS with fleet management capabilities from day one.
- Not verifying real-world performance; Ask for case studies and references. The best storage EMS providers can show actual dispatch data and revenue results.
Why Developers Choose Intellect Operate
WATTMORE's Intellect Operate is a storage EMS built by a team that operates real battery systems every day. It combines edge-based real-time dispatch with cloud analytics and AI-powered optimization. It is vendor-agnostic, supports all major battery and inverter manufacturers, and has been proven across hundreds of megawatts of deployed storage.
Ready to evaluate a storage EMS for your next project? Contact WATTMORE for a demo of Intellect Operate.