What is a battery energy storage system?

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) stabilize the electrical grid, ensuring a steady flow of power to homes and businesses regardless of fluctuations from varied energy sources or other disruptions. However, fires at some BESS installations have caused concern in communities considering BESS as a method to support their grids.

What is energy storage?

Basics of Energy Storage Energy storage refers to resources which can serve as both electrical load by consuming power while charging and electrical generation by releasing power while discharging. Energy storage comes in a variety of forms, including mechanical (e.g., pumped hydro), thermal (e.g., ice/water), and electrochemical (e.g., batteries).

Are energy storage systems safe?

Within a given technology (e.g., lithium ion), there can be large differences in system performance based on the specific cell chemistry. For all of the technologies listed, as long as appropriate high voltage safety procedures are followed, energy storage systems can be a safe source of power in commercial buildings.

Is energy storage a viable option?

Assuming the initial analysis shows that energy storage is an economically viable option, the final decision to procure an ESS needs to be taken in the broader perspective of the business as a whole. This can include looking at issues of space, noise, and timing for system installation.

Who should consider adding energy storage to a commercial building?

This guide is intended for anyone investigating the addition of energy storage to a single or multiple commercial buildings. This could include building energy managers, facility managers, and property managers in a variety of sectors.

Can energy storage be used as a generator?

Energy storage can provide a cleaner, quieter alternative to conventional gas or diesel generators in case of a grid outage. However, an ESS cannot be refueled the same way as a conventional generator. As such, some facilities will only use the ESS for critical loads, integrate some form of renewable generation, or pair it with a generator.