he Brief‍

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Keeling Labs helps grid-scale battery operators adapt to constant changes in the grid w/ energy management software that automatically adjusts its behavior to maximize revenue

Founder

Jack O'Grady

Y Combinator (W23) Just Launched

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^{David J. Phillips @davj / 8:00 PM PST • January 31, 2023}

In the U.S., grid-scale batteries are being deployed in the grid at a rapid rate. Despite this growth in general usability, a method for effectively managing them remains obscure, as they are different from any other power assets. This is mainly because A. they don't generate their own power and B. fixed-price power sales contracts don't exist for them.

Battery storage assets continually purchase and sell energy at fluctuating, dynamic rates. An asset's ability to carryout these transactions in an effective manner directly correlates with the quality of project returns. As each new battery and renewable energy system is added to the grid, so changes the appropriate course of action in handling them. This scenario creates a market for tools that help optimize these transactions so as to prevent the deterioration of otherwise potential benefits: like profit.

A quick glance at battery addition plans across every ISO reveals that these changes are quickly accelerating, which suggests that an intensification of the pace of change can be reasonably expected in the near future.

Keeling Labs offers a novel solution to this hectic state of affairs.

Instead of relying on human experience or fixed, hard-coded instructions, Keeling has developed AI-powered software that learns as it goes, adapting to the swiftly changing landscape. It can accurately determine the best way to buy and sell power, specific to each battery asset — all autonomously.

The innovative technology is based on what's known as "Reinforcement Learning", and it's a much-welcomed change in the world of hardware system optimization. Reinforcement Learning is leading to breakthroughs in system performance.

‎Capitalizing on the founding team's years of experience and expertise with RL-based battery controls and battery optimization in the Electric Vehicle sector, the team is well-positioned to provide awesome solutions in the grid-scale battery space, and is sure to keep developing an amazing product.

About the Founder

Jack O'Grady is the founder of Keeling Labs, and he started the company with the strong conviction that batteries are imperative to enabling more renewable energy be made available from solar and wind. He wanted to bring applied AI to the space to help scale the deployment, efficiency, and performance of these important assets.

Prior to this endeavor, he worked on battery algorithms, data, and optimization for more than 3 years at EV company Rivian, where he started the company’s Battery Data Science Team. He also pioneered the application of Reinforcement Learning to fast charging in the R1T/R1S vehicle models.

Connect with Keeling Labs!

Keeling Labs is looking for innovative and tech-forward industry partners to work with - if you have connections to asset managers / battery owners / utilities - make the intro!