Investor confidence in battery energy storage projects is built on technical expertise, credible project development and transparent asset management, and must ultimately be demonstrated through measurable results, Giacomo Billi, Founder and CEO of Alive Capital, said at a conference organised by the company and dedicated to battery energy storage systems.
“Investor confidence is earned through competence and a credible project. It is maintained through results. That is what we want to be judged on,” Billi said.
He stressed that operating an energy storage asset carries significant responsibility, as operational decisions directly affect both investment returns and the installation’s lifetime.
“When an investor entrusts us with the operation of an asset, they are entrusting us with part of the outcome of their investment,” he said.
Decisions on when to charge and discharge a battery, how to respect its operating limits and how to respond to market conditions all influence revenues and asset longevity, Billi explained. Investors must therefore have a clear understanding of how their projects are performing, what decisions are being made and why.
“They must see the results, but also the differences compared with the plan. And when those differences arise, they must receive explanations and know what we intend to do next. That is what transparency means to me,” he said.
Billi added that Alive Capital applies the same discipline and rigour to its clients’ investments as it does to its own. This includes identifying project weaknesses before investors commit capital, explaining risks clearly and actively seeking opportunities to improve performance.
“A partner must be present even when results fall short of expectations. Especially then,” he said.
Billi also highlighted digitalisation and the adoption of appropriate technologies as key pillars of Alive Capital’s strategy and future development.
“We invest in this direction to make better decisions, manage assets more effectively and provide services our clients can rely on,” he said.
He explained that the company selects technologies based on the operational challenges it needs to address and the capabilities it aims to develop internally.
The company’s approach is focused on translating technological investment into tangible benefits for customers, including improved asset management and more effective operational decision-making.
“We are committed to demonstrating the value of these investments through measurable results for our clients,” he added.
Looking ahead, Billi said Alive Capital aims to contribute to making Romania a reference market for the development and operation of battery energy storage projects.
“Our ambition is for Romania to become a benchmark for how storage projects are built and operated,” he said.
Alive Capital intends to support this ambition through skilled professionals, technology, market experience and the ability to monitor and manage projects continuously after commissioning.
“For me, this is a long-term commitment,” Billi said.
He also emphasised the importance of accountability and adaptability in a market where actual performance can diverge from forecasts.
“The market can prove forecasts wrong. When that happens, we must acknowledge that our assumptions no longer hold and adjust our decisions accordingly,” he said.
“A forecast must be verified. A decision must be evaluated based on its effects. That is what I expect from my team, and that is what our partners should expect from Alive Capital.”