Safety requirements for home energy storage systems

Does industry need energy storage standards?

As cited in the DOE OE ES Program Plan, “Industry requires specifications of standards for characterizing the performance of energy storage under grid conditions and for modeling behavior. Discussions with industry professionals indicate a significant need for standards ” [1, p. 30].

Is energy storage a hazard?

Stored energy of any kind is a hazard. In the case of abnormal operation, damage, or swelling, immediately contact a qualified technician or the manufacturer. Residential energy storage systems (ESS) using lithium-ion batteries can present safety challenges for homeowners and firefighters.

Do energy storage systems need a CSR?

Until existing model codes and standards are updated or new ones developed and then adopted, one seeking to deploy energy storage technologies or needing to verify an installation’s safety may be challenged in applying current CSRs to an energy storage system (ESS).

Do electric energy storage systems need to be tested?

It is recognized that electric energy storage equipment or systems can be a single device providing all required functions or an assembly of components, each having limited functions. Components having limited functions shall be tested for those functions in accordance with this standard.

What safety standards affect the design and installation of ESS?

As shown in Fig. 3, many safety C&S affect the design and installation of ESS. One of the key product standards that covers the full system is the UL9540 Standard for Safety: Energy Storage Systems and Equipment . Here, we discuss this standard in detail; some of the remaining challenges are discussed in the next section.

Are new battery technologies a risk to energy storage systems?

While modern battery technologies, including lithium ion (Li-ion), increase the technical and economic viability of grid energy storage, they also present new or unknown risks to managing the safety of energy storage systems (ESS). This article focuses on the particular challenges presented by newer battery technologies.