Energy Storage Project Cooperation Inspection Plan

What's new in energy storage safety?

Since the publication of the first Energy Storage Safety Strategic Plan in 2014, there have been introductions of new technologies, new use cases, and new codes, standards, regulations, and testing methods. Additionally, failures in deployed energy storage systems (ESS) have led to new emergency response best practices.

Do energy storage systems need a safety assessment?

Safety Assessment: As more energy storage systems have become operational, new safety features have been mandated through various codes and standards, professional organizations, and learned best practices. The design and commissioning teams need to stay current so that required safety assessments can be performed during commissioning.

What is a typical energy storage deployment?

A typical energy storage deployment will consist of multiple project phases, including (1) planning (project initiation, development, and design activities), (2) procurement, (3) construction, (4) acceptance testing (i.e., commissioning), (5) operations and maintenance, and (6) decommissioning.

What are the gaps in energy storage safety assessments?

One gap in current safety assessments is that validation tests are performed on new products under laboratory conditions, and do not reflect changes that can occur in service or as the product ages. Figure 4. Increasing safety certainty earlier in the energy storage development cycle. 8. Summary of Gaps

What is a battery energy storage inspection checklist?

The Inspection Checklist is intended to be utilized as a guideline for field inspections of residential and small commercial battery energy storage systems. It can be used directly by local code enforcement officers or provided to a third-party inspection agency, where applicable.

Are energy storage projects conflicting with other land uses?

Since 2015, the amount of utility-scale energy storage installed in the U.S. has grown at an average rate of 75 percent per year. Since 2020, the annual growth rate is 134 percent (including planned installations for 2023). As storage projects proliferate in the U.S., the potential for them to come into conflict with other land uses increases.