Dr. Marek Kubik on BESS, AI, and Scaling a Billion-Dollar Energy Company

On this episode of the Soliverse Podcast, Peter sits down with Marek Kubik—battery expert, energy futurist, and co-founder of Fluence—to explore what’s next for battery energy storage systems (BESS), AI in energy, and the clean tech infrastructure that will shape our net-zero future.

With over 16 years in the industry, Marek unpacks what it really takes to scale energy storage, navigate market shifts, and stay ahead of the innovation curve.

They discuss:

🔋 BESS as the Swiss Army knife of energy systems

⚙️ Scaling a global battery company like Fluence

🧠 How AI is reshaping energy optimization and forecasting

🧪 Sodium-ion vs lithium-ion: which wins long-term?

🌍 Why Europe leads in deployment—and the Middle East in execution

📉 Battery cost drops, storage bottlenecks, and what developers miss

💡 What’s next in hydrogen, grid innovation, and clean infrastructure

Connect with Marek Kubik:

🌐 Website: https://www.mkubik.com/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marekkubik

🌐 Fluence: https://www.fluenceenergy.com

Connect with Soliverse:

🎧 Spotify: Soliverse on Spotify

🌐 Website: https://soliverse.energy

📨 Email: peter@soliverse.energy

🔗 LinkedIn – Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterpongraczsaas/

🔗 LinkedIn – Soliverse: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106534214/

Chapters

• 0:00 00:00 The Evolution of Battery Storage Technology
• 6:02 Understanding Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
• 12:00 12:00 The Global Landscape of Battery Technology
• 17:49 Challenges and Misconceptions in Battery Technology
• 23:47 The Future of Energy Storage: Green Hydrogen and Beyond
• 28:25 The Birth of Fluence: A Startup Mentality
• 32:49 Navigating Market Differences: Adapting Products for Success
• 39:54 The Balancing Act: Customization vs. Standardization
• 42:12 AI in Energy: Transforming the Industry
• 49:17 Renewable Energy and AI: A Geopolitical Perspective