Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook - Report - Page 23
23
Energy Storage Guidebook
FIGURE 4
Municipal Agency Reviews Often Required by Large Projects
Requirements Research and Project Design
Submit Permit
Fire Department Review
Building Safety, Zoning and Planning Review
Fire Department Inspection
Building Department Inspection
Utility*
*Some AHJs and utilities require permit applicants to secure
interconnection agreement prior to submitting permit application
Figure 4 is a 昀氀ow chart illustrating a typical large ESS approval process from 昀椀re department and building department review to utility inspection with a
parallel review from building safety, zoning, and planning departments.
Source: Center for Sustainable Energy (https://energycenter.org/)
Permitting Best Practices Across California
Efficient permitting of ESS systems will continue to be a challenge for both
AHJs and ESS designers and installers as the adoption rate of ESS continues to
increase in California, the players in the energy industry shift, and ESS technologies
rapidly evolve.
From various discussions with and feedback from AHJs, ESS designers and installers, and ESS manufacturers,
the following are potential barriers to ESS permitting. Note that this is not a comprehensive list of
challenges, and additionally, some items included on the list may not be viewed universally as a barrier.
While codes and standards, such as the National Electrical Code (NEC), are updated frequently to keep
up with the rapidly evolving ESS technologies, the latest iteration of the codes are often not enforced
in practice until years after development. California codes requirements that regulate ESS across the
state are not keeping up with the rapidly changing technologies.
Multiple, complex codes and standards impact ESS, and it may be unclear how these codes and
standards interact.
Problems or questions can arise from a lack of transparency or clarity in the inspection process or
during the permit application process.
