Summary of energy storage commissioning

What are the commissioning activities of an energy storage system (ESS)?

Commissioning is required by the owner to ensure proper operation for the system warranty to be valid. The activities relative to the overall design / build of an energy storage system (ESS) are described next. The details of the commissioning activities are described in Section 2. Figure 1. Overall flow of ESS initial project phases

What is a commissioning plan?

Commissioning is a required process in the start-up of an energy storage system. This gives the owner assurance that the system performs as specified. A Commissioning Plan prepared and followed by the project team can enable a straightforward and timely process, ensuring safe and productive operation following handoff.

How does commissioning work?

Commissioning offers sequential gated reviews that investigate responses to component and system level behavior, which is then documented in reports on the technical performance. The general flow of the initial phases of an energy storage project implementation process (assuming a design build contract strategy) is shown in Figure 1.

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 are the challenges in an ESS commissioning process?

Several challenges in an ESS commissioning process have been noted. All of these challenges can be minimized or avoided by careful planning. Design for Commissioning: Sometimes commissioning is complex or difficult if access to measurement points or data screens is not considered in advance.

What is commissioning & acceptance?

Commissioning and acceptance include operational and functional test performance; assessment that installation and operation is per design and within tolerance; O&M training/documentation; review of applicable testing, adjusting, and balance requirements; and completion of a commissioning report.