EP.262 Tom Palmer on Powering the Grid: The Growing Role of Large-Scale Battery Storage
Description
This week on Energy Unplugged, we’re delighted to welcome Tom Palmer, Head of Business Development in Zenobē’s Network Infrastructure business. He joins Malvika Gode, Senior Associate at Aurora Energy Research, to explore how large-scale battery storage is transforming grid stability and enabling the transition to a fully renewable power system.
Tom is an economist by background and brings a wealth of experience from across the energy sector, having previously worked at RWE Renewables, Cornwall Insight, Origami Energy, Palantir Solutions, EDF Energy, and Ofgem. At Zenobē, Tom focuses on developing grid-scale battery projects that support transmission and distribution networks as they adapt to increasing renewable penetration.
Main topics include:
- How large-scale batteries are stabilising renewable-heavy grids and supporting the energy transition.
- Integration with transmission and distribution networks and lessons from pioneering grid-forming projects.
- Technical, commercial, and market challenges, including balancing mechanism inefficiencies and evolving regulatory frameworks.
- The future of grid-scale storage, from longer-duration projects to new revenue streams and system-wide flexibility.



