When businesses think about solving their energy challenges, the conversation often begins with a single technology: “Should we add solar panels?” or “Would batteries help us lower peak charges?” While these questions are valid, they miss the bigger picture. Energy challenges are rarely solved with just one piece of equipment.
That’s where the idea of a Power Stack comes in.
In the world of microgrids and distributed energy resources (DERs), a Power Stack is the strategic combination of multiple technologies—solar, storage, dispatchable generation, advanced controls, and even emerging solutions like fuel cells or linear generators—layered together to create a system that is stronger than any one component on its own.
Every energy resource has its limits. Solar PV produces clean, low-cost power, but only when the sun is shining. Batteries help balance loads and manage peaks, but their capacity is finite and recharging depends on generation. Natural gas or multi-fuel generators provide dispatchable, always-available power, but they bring fuel costs and emissions into the equation. Even newer technologies like fuel cells or linear generators add exciting flexibility, but they aren’t a universal fit for every site.
When deployed in isolation, each technology leaves gaps. But when integrated into a Power Stack, these resources complement one another. For example, generators can provide baseload production—steady, dependable power to keep operations running—while solar and batteries trim daytime costs and manage peaks. Advanced controls then orchestrate the mix, ensuring the system responds to demand in real time. This not only fills the gaps but also allows the system to adapt to changing site conditions and market dynamics.
From a business perspective, a stacked solution can deliver a stronger financial outcome than a single-technology system. A carefully designed mix can cut daytime electricity costs, reduce costly demand charges, and avoid revenue loss during outages. Just as important, a Power Stack can help navigate net export constraints—rules that limit how much power can be pushed back onto the grid. Instead of leaving stranded value on the table, the system can redirect excess power to storage or flexible loads, protecting ROI while adding resilience.
This integration means not just lower energy bills, but greater predictability in planning and budgeting—something critical for operators managing thin margins in volatile energy markets.
Sustainability goals are no longer optional for many businesses; they are central to strategy. A Power Stack enables progress by combining renewables with dispatchable assets, achieving measurable emissions reductions while ensuring operational reliability. Unlike single-technology approaches, a layered system doesn’t lock owners into one pathway. As incentives shift—such as the sunsetting of solar credits under the One Big Beautiful Bill—or as new technologies mature, the system can evolve without stranding capital.
When the only certainty is uncertainty, flexibility becomes the most important design principle. A Power Stack allows businesses to work around grid delays, manage fuel risk, and tap into new revenue streams like demand response or day-ahead markets. By layering technologies, the system becomes more than the sum of its parts—it becomes an energy platform that supports resilience, financial stability, and long-term sustainability.
At PowerStack, we’re not here to sell a single product. We don’t manufacture batteries, generators, or controllers. Instead, we act as a fiduciary for our clients, designing technology-agnostic Power Stacks that combine the right mix of resources for each project’s mission.
Whether you’re an industrial REIT managing tenant expectations, a cold storage operator facing steep demand charges, or a community looking for reliable power, the most cost-effective, resilient, and sustainable answer is rarely one technology. It’s a Power Stack.
Because the best systems aren’t defined by what they’re made of—they’re defined by how well they perform.