About the Augmentation Planning
Battery augmentation planning works out the extra storage capacity that must be added to a BESS over its life to offset cell degradation and keep the guaranteed usable energy at the contracted level.
How to calculate it
- 1Project the battery's annual capacity fade (degradation curve from the OEM).
- 2Track usable energy year by year against the contracted/guaranteed capacity.
- 3Schedule augmentation (adding modules/racks) whenever usable energy would otherwise fall below the guarantee.
- 4Balance up-front oversizing versus periodic augmentation to minimise lifetime cost.
Worked example
A 100 MWh BESS degrading ~2–3% per year drops below a 90% guarantee within a few years; augmentation adds capacity at planned intervals so the plant keeps meeting its contracted energy for the full term.
What you can calculate
- Augmentation kWh
- Schedule years
- CAPEX planning
- Contract compliance
Standards & references
Frequently asked questions
Why do battery storage systems need augmentation?
Lithium cells lose capacity as they cycle and age. To keep delivering the contracted usable energy over a 15–20 year term, operators either oversize up front or add capacity (augment) at planned intervals — augmentation is usually the more cost-effective path.
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