Turning Solar Curtailment into Revenue | AC-Coupled Hybrid BESS | Storlytics Case Study 4

In this video, Storlytics co-founders Dr. Sherif Abdelrazek and Dr. Jakir Hossain walk through Case Study 4 from the Storlytics V4 launch session. They demonstrate how to design an AC-coupled Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for a hybrid solar + storage application. Solar PV curtailment is one of the most expensive hidden losses in utility-scale PV projects. In this case study, we evaluate a PV facility in San Diego that is consistently clipping energy due to a 75 MW interconnection limit, especially during high-production Spring months. Using Storlytics, we design a 20MW/80 MWh AC-coupled battery system that charges PV output exceeding the interconnection limit and then discharges during peak price hours. On days where solar production doesn’t exceed the interconnection limit, the BESS seamlessly switches to grid-charged energy arbitrage mode, ensuring year-round BESS utilization and revenue generation. The workflow demonstrates how PV Clipped Energy Capture and Energy Arbitrage can be stacked within a single dispatch profile, how BESS utilization histograms are used to avoid BESS oversizing (or under sizing), and how daily state-of-charge steering dramatically reduces long-term battery degradation. By simulating BESS operator SoC steering (which is required for operation of any BESS) in the design phase, the project achieves over $1 million in upfront capital savings purely through more accurate operational assumptions. This demonstration shows how hybrid design is not just about adding storage but about turning curtailment into revenue while protecting long-term asset value. For the full Storlytics V4 workshop, watch here:    • Storlytics V4 Introduction and Training   Shape Video Timeline – Case 4: Designing BESS for Hybrid Solar Storage Applications 00:00 Introduction to Case Study 4 01:05 Project Scenario: 75 MW Interconnection & Solar Clipping Issue 02:08 Design Objective: Clipped Energy Capture + Energy Arbitrage 03:02 Creating a New Project & Opening Battery Profile Creator 04:06 Selecting the Clipped Energy Storage Application 05:04 Loading the San Diego Solar PV Profile 06:00 Setting Charge Threshold at 75 MW Interconnection Limit 06:48 Enabling Daily Charge/Discharge Energy Equalization 07:40 Setting Discharge Window 08:32 Running the Initial Battery Dispatch Simulation 09:20 Reviewing Full Dispatch Profile & Idle Periods 10:10 Adding Energy Arbitrage via Schedule Application 11:04 Priority-Based Dispatch Logic (Clipped Energy vs Arbitrage) 11:54 Initial Power & Energy Histogram Review 13:00 Determining Optimal System Size from Histograms 14:02 Selecting Final BESS Size: 20 MW / 80 MWh 15:00 Configuring Scheduled Grid Charging 15:58 Re-running Dispatch with Dual Applications 16:44 Improved Energy Utilization & Seasonal Operation Review 17:38 Importing Results into Battery System Modeler 18:20 Equipment Selection: Inverter & Enclosure Models 19:08 Auto-Sizing Failure Due to Voltage Compatibility 19:50 Resolving Equipment Mismatch & Successful Auto-Sizing 20:32 Financial Model Setup & Cost Component Selection 21:10 Reviewing Achievement & Throughput Results 21:58 State of Charge Drift Issue Explanation 22:38 Enabling Daily SOC Steering (15% Target) 23:12 Impact on Degradation & Installed Capacity 23:52 Cost Reduction from SOC Optimization 24:12 Final Results, Operational Insights & Closing Remarks