Distributed batteries for grid resilience Zach Dell (CEO & Founder @ Base Power)

As the energy transition accelerates, batteries are no longer just utility-scale infrastructure - they're moving into homes, neighbourhoods, and communities. Residential storage is emerging as a powerful tool for improving grid reliability, reducing electricity costs, and giving consumers more control over their energy use. This shift is being driven by falling technology costs, growing demand for backup power, and the need for faster, more flexible ways to support an increasingly electrified grid.While most attention in the battery world focuses on utility-scale systems, Base Power is scaling something different: a distributed, behind-the-meter fleet of residential batteries installed across Texas homes.Zach walks us through the business model, the reasons residential deployment is faster and more scalable than many assume, and how Base’s vertically integrated strategy is unlocking both customer trust and capital efficiency. From billing and software to partnerships with utilities, the conversation unpacks what it takes to bring batteries to the grid at speed and at scale.In this episode of Transmission, Quentin is joined by Zach Dell, CEO and founder of Base Power, a fast-growing startup redefining how residential batteries are deployed and monetised in the U.S.Over the course of the conversation, you’ll hear about:The story of Base Power and why it is focusing on distributed, behind the meter residential deployment.How Base participates in ERCOT markets and plans for ancillary services.Zach’s take on cost curves, solar + storage vs nuclear, and the future of distributed energy.The role of vertical integration in reducing cost and increasing speed at every step of the process.Why more granular price signals in Texas could supercharge DER investmentAbout our guestBase Power is a Texas-based energy company pioneering a new model of home energy service by combining residential battery storage with retail electricity provision. Founded in 2023, the company aims to enhance grid reliability and affordability through a network of distributed, software-connected batteries across Texas homes. For more information on Base Power, head to their website.Zach Dell is the founder and CEO of Base Power. A Texas native with a background in finance, Zach started Base after working in New York and seeing the opportunity to accelerate battery deployment through a distributed, vertically integrated model.About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.