STANDARDS

The latest energy storage container certification standards

The third edition of the UL 9540 Standard for Safety for Energy Storage Systems and Equipment, published in April 2023, introduces replacements, revisions and additions to the requirements for system deployment.
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What is a containerized energy storage system?

A Containerized Energy Storage System (CESS) operates on a mechanism that involves the collection, storage, and distribution of electric power. The primary purpose of this system is to store electricity, often produced from renewable resources like solar or wind power, and release it when necessary. To achieve this, the

What makes TLS energy's Bess containers different from standard containers?

Unlike standard containers, TLS Energy''s BESS containers are equipped with essential components such as HVAC systems, fire fighting systems, and efficient lighting. This integration ensures that the containers are not just storage units but fully functional systems capable of handling diverse environmental conditions and safety

What is the energy storage standard?

The Standard covers a comprehensive review of energy storage systems, covering charging and discharging, protection, control, communication between devices, fluids movement and other aspects.

Does ul test large energy storage systems?

Research offerings include: UL can test your large energy storage systems (ESS) based on UL 9540 and provide ESS certification to help identify the safety and performance of your system.

What are energy storage systems?

TORAGE SYSTEMS 1.1 IntroductionEnergy Storage Systems (“ESS”) is a group of systems put together that can store and elease energy as and when required. It is essential in enabling the energy transition to a more sustainable energy mix by incorporating more renewable energy sources that are intermittent

What does ul 9540 mean for energy storage systems & equipment?

Battery energy storage box test standards

ANSI/CAN/UL 9540A provides a standardized test method to determine a battery technology’s susceptibility to thermal runaway, a chemical reaction that causes a battery to increase in temperature and pressure rapidly and can lead to significant safety issues, such as fire and explosions.
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Are battery energy storage systems safe?

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 28, 2025 — Today, the American Clean Power Association (ACP) released a comprehensive framework to ensure the safety of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in every community across the United States, informed by a new assessment of previous fire incidents at BESS facilities.

Should energy storage safety test information be disseminated?

Another long-term benefit of disseminating safety test information could be baselining minimum safety metrics related to gas evolution and related risk limits for creation of a pass/fail criteria for energy storage safety testing and certification processes, including UL 9540A.

Are fire protection requirements not related to battery energy storage system equipment covered?

1.3 Fire protection requirements not related to battery energy storage system equipment are covered by appropriate installation codes. 1.4 See Figure 1.1 for a schematic of the test sequence in this document. See Appendix a which explains: c) Interpretation and application of the results.

How can battery storage facilities be regulated?

In addition to working with fire officials and state policymakers to advance safety standards, the industry has developed a framework to help local governments effectively regulate the construction of battery storage facilities.

What is ACP's battery storage blueprint for safety?

ACP’s Battery Storage Blueprint for Safety outlines key actions and policy recommendations for state and local jurisdictions to regulate battery storage, enforce the country’s most rigorous safety standards, and ensure coordination on safety and emergency response in all communities.

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.

Fire protection standards and specifications for electrochemical energy storage power stations

This national standard puts forward clear safety requirements for the equipment and facilities, operation and maintenance, maintenance tests, and emergency disposal of electrochemical energy storage stations, and is applicable to stations using lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid (carbon) batteries, redox flow batteries, and hydrogen storage/fuel cells, other types of electrochemical energy storage stations can use it as a reference.
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What are the characteristics of electrochemical energy storage power station?

2.2 Fire Characteristics of Electrochemical Energy Storage Power Station Electrochemical energy storage power station mainly consists of energy storage unit, power conversion system, battery management system and power grid equipment.

What is the NFPA 855 standard for stationary energy storage systems?

Setting up minimum separation from walls, openings, and other structural elements. The National Fire Protection Association NFPA 855 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems provides the minimum requirements for mitigating hazards associated with ESS of diferent battery types.

Can energy storage power stations monitor fire information?

Fire information monitoring At present, most of the energy storage power stations can only collect and display the status information of ﬁre ﬁghting facilities (such as ﬁre detectors, ﬁre extinguishing equipment, etc.) in the station.

What are ESS safety standards?

Considering ESS safety from a ground-up perspective, standards will apply to the smallest parts of the system (e.g., wires, relays, switches, etc.) to address their design, construction, and safety features to serve their intended purpose.

What is an energy storage system (ESS)?

Covers an energy storage system (ESS) that is intended to receive and store energy in some form so that the ESS can provide electrical energy to loads or to the local/area electric power system (EPS) when needed. Electrochemical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal ESS are covered by this Standard.

Do ESS systems and components meet safety standards?

The ability to state, with certainty, that an ESS system or component parts meets the provisions of one or more applicable safety standards supports the timely acceptance of safe ESS systems and components.

Testing standards for portable energy storage products

UL 9540 provides a basis for safety of energy storage systems that includes reference to critical technology safety standards and codes, such as UL 1973, the Standard for Batteries for Use in Stationary, Vehicle Auxiliary Power and Light Electric Rail (LER) Applications; UL 1741, the Standard for Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use With Distributed Energy Resources; IEEE 1547 and 1547.1; CSA FC1; NFPA 70; NFPA 2; ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code; and ASME B31 piping codes.
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FAQS

Does ul test large energy storage systems?

Research offerings include: UL can test your large energy storage systems (ESS) based on UL 9540 and provide ESS certification to help identify the safety and performance of your system.

What is the energy storage standard?

The Standard covers a comprehensive review of energy storage systems, covering charging and discharging, protection, control, communication between devices, fluids movement and other aspects.

How a comprehensive energy storage system certification is conducted?

Our comprehensive energy storage system certification is conducted according to the following five-step approach: Our global network of experts is extensively experienced in the cross-industry inspection, testing and certification of energy storage systems.

What are battery safety standards?

As outlined above, batteries are subject to multiple safety standards that define specific design requirements and testing protocols. Among these, safety standards testing plays a critical role in ensuring battery safety. Let's examine the nature of these safety tests in more detail.

Are fire protection requirements not related to battery energy storage system equipment covered?

Why do you need a certified energy storage system?

Energy storage systems that have been tested and certified ensure reliable customers service, protect the natural environment and provide profits needed for business success. Selecting an experienced and recognized independent partner to certify energy storage systems and components demonstrates your corporate commitment to excellence.

Energy storage standards related to power grid

Electrochemical energy storage technical specifications for grid-type converter, guidelines for safety evaluation of electrochemical energy storage power stations, and Flywheel energy storage converter for electric energy storage.
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What are the different storage requirements for grid services?

Examples of the different storage requirements for grid services include: Ancillary Services – including load following, operational reserve, frequency regulation, and 15 minutes fast response. Relieving congestion and constraints: short-duration (power application, stability) and long-duration (energy application, relieve thermal loading).

Is energy storage a future power grid?

For the past decade, industry, utilities, regulators, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have viewed energy storage as an important element of future power grids, and that as technology matures and costs decline, adoption will increase.

What standards are required for energy storage devices?

Coordinated, consistent, interconnection standards, communication standards, and implementation guidelines are required for energy storage devices (ES), power electronics connected distributed energy resources (DER), hybrid generation-storage systems (ES-DER), and plug-in electric vehicles (PEV).

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].

What if energy storage system and component standards are not identified?

Energy Storage System and Component Standards 2. If relevant testing standards are not identified, it is possible they are under development by an SDO or by a third-party testing entity that plans to use them to conduct tests until a formal standard has been developed and approved by an SDO.

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).