Beyond Energy Newsletter
June 2025
LLM vs SLM: Why scale isn’t the whole story
A note from Dr Ivona Voroneckaja, Engineering Manager at Hypercube
LLMs and SLMs are often framed in opposition - big versus small, generalist versus specialist - but in reality, both have value. The challenge lies in understanding which is best suited to your specific use case.
In the energy sector, where requirements can vary dramatically between teams and tasks, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. What matters is having a clear view of your objectives, constraints, and context; and selecting the right tool accordingly.
I've unpacked the core differences between LLMs and SLMs, demystified common assumptions, and highlighted the trade-offs worth considering - so you’re better equipped to make an informed, practical decision on which AI model works best for your needs.
Dr Ivona Voroneckaja | Engineering Manager
A turning point for battery economics?
Ofgem’s skip rate determination signals a major shift in how battery storage assets are valued in the UK grid. With NESO now expected to improve dispatch parity, previously skipped BESS assets could see substantial revenue growth - especially through services like Quick Reserve.
Connor Galbraith breaks down what this means for operators, investors, and the economics of storage at scale.
- Skip rates of 80–90% have held batteries back - that’s changing
- Quick Reserve service boosts revenues up to £94k/MW/year
- Ofgem mandates dispatch parity by end of financial year
- Better revenue forecasting could unlock more project finance
- Batteries in constraint-heavy regions (like Scotland) stand to gain
The Self-Driving Home: AI, Net-Zero Living and Energy-as-a-Service
Mark Lufkin, Chief Product Officer at Wondrwall, the Manchester-based company transforming home energy through AI, solar, and automation.
Mark traces Wondrwall’s evolution from motion-sensing wallpaper to an intelligent, full-stack energy system. With over 20,000 data points generated per home each day, the platform manages heating, lighting, storage, and power flows in real time - delivering comfort and savings without user input.
The conversation unpacks why most people don’t have time to be energy experts, and how Wondrwall’s approach prioritises trust, simplicity, and human-centred design. Mark also explains the PowerPlan model, which removes upfront costs by installing solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers for free – then supplies low-cost, clean electricity back to homeowners.
What Adam and Mark cover:
- Wondrwall’s AI manages the home so users don’t have to
- Tech that’s smart, but also polite: automation that asks first
- The Future Homes Standard falls short of what’s needed
- PowerPlan rethinks ownership: zero upfront cost, lower bills
- Why design for behaviour is key to scaling net-zero living
Global Battery Shifts: Tech, Cost, and the Search for Better Chemistry
We speak with Dr. Edward Rackley, Head of Energy Storage at CRU, about the next phase of battery innovation - where supply chains, performance, and market dynamics matter more than just price.
They dive into the real drivers behind storage transitions, from sodium-ion hype to containerised 12MWh systems, and what’s needed to move beyond lithium.
Adam and Edward discuss:
- Why cost isn’t everything anymore in battery selection
- The rise of LFP, and what chemistries could follow
- Supply chain challenges from minerals to manufacturing
- Global growth in markets like Saudi Arabia and Morocco
- How CRU forecasts the tipping points in tech adoption
Free EVs and ethical AI
Octopus Energy’s 2025 Tech Summit opened its doors to the public for the first time - offering a look at how technology, ethics, and scale converge in the clean energy transition.
Connor Galbraith shares key moments from the day, including insights from Chris Hadfield, Brian Cox, and Stephen Fry, a new EV leasing model with free energy, and reflections on how we train AI to act responsibly in the systems we build.
Optimising renewables starts with your data platform
Scaling a renewable portfolio brings more complexity: more sites, more systems, more risk. This piece explores why building a scalable, source-agnostic data platform goes beyond IT hygiene to deliver strategic advantage.
Learn how leading operators are:
- Moving from static reporting to predictive, real-time insights
- Using data to reduce downtime and increase asset yield
- Bridging the gap between engineering, ops, and analytics
- Preparing for co-located sites, market volatility, and storage at scale
How co-location helps beat the grid connection crunch
Hypercube CEO Adam Sroka breaks down how co-locating renewables and storage helps developers get more from limited grid capacity.
- Smarter integration of wind, solar, and BESS on one site
- Cuts curtailment and boosts overall system flexibility
- Behind-the-meter setups ease grid connection constraints
- Advanced trading using AI and MILP optimisation
- Turn hybrid sites into high-performance energy assets
- Ideal for storage operators, developers, and energy traders
Pride Month: Inclusion in energy and why it matters
To mark Pride Month, we’re revisiting a powerful conversation with Damian Dowling, volunteer at Pride in Energy and part of the Tackling Inclusion and Diversity in Energy (TIDE) initiative.
Damian joins Adam to discuss the barriers to inclusion in the energy sector; and how creating safer, more inclusive workplaces leads to stronger teams, better decisions, and more resilient organisations.
Hypercube named UK's #1 fastest growing consultancy!
We’re proud to announce that Hypercube has been named the #1 fastest growing consultancy in the UK, and the #3 fastest growing tech company overall, according to new data from Cord’s Spring 2025 Hiring Intelligence report.
With a 186% increase in team size, Hypercube has emerged as a standout in the consultancy space, and one of the top three startups across the entire UK tech ecosystem.
