A redox flow battery system includes an anolyte; a catholyte; a first half-cell including a first electrode in contact with the anolyte; a second half-cell including a second electrode in contact with the catholyte; a separator separating the anolyte in the first half-cell from the catholyte in the second half-cell; at least one state measurement device configured for intermittently, periodically, or continuously making a measurement of a value indicative of a state of charge of the anolyte or the catholyte before entering or after leaving the first half-cell or second half-cell, respectively; and a controller coupled to the at least one state measurement device for generating a temporal energy profile of the anolyte or the catholyte, respectively, using the measurements.