Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook - Report - Page 11
11
Energy Storage Guidebook
FIGURE 2
Scope of the Energy Storage Systems Discussed in the Guidebook
Project Scope: Commercially available behind-the-meter ESS < 1 MW
Occupancy Type
Single Family and Multi-Family
(R-1 through R-4 Occupancies
All Other Occupancies
System Characteristics
UL 9540 certified BESS
under 20 kWh unit capacity
and under 40/80 kWh
aggregate capacity eligible
for streamlining
Other ESS noteligible
for streamlining
UL 9540 certified BESS
under 50 kWh unit capacity
and under may be eligible
for permit streamlining
Figure shows the segmentation approach used to identify which energy storage technologies would be covered by the contents of the guidebook. The
guidebook focuses on commercially available, behind-the-meter, electrochemical energy storage systems.
Source: Center for Sustainable Energy (https://energycenter.org/)
For this guidebook’s purposes, “commercially available” technologies are those that have been deployed and
proven through successful operation and are available for sale in California for BTM applications as of the
publication of this guidebook. The CEC maintains a list of commercially available technology in California
on their Solar Equipment List. Thus, if a technology is available, but not sold in an appropriate size or form
for BTM use, then it is not included in this guidebook. Additionally, most BTM energy storage systems are
installed at locations where the building or facility is connected to utility service. The guidebook focuses on
BTM energy storage systems because these kinds of systems are useful to a wide range of customers and
further energy storage system adoption can benefit greatly from streamlined permitting processes. Off-grid
systems are outside the purview of the guidebook.
While the guidebook project set out to develop a single, streamlined permitting process that could be
implemented across the state, research conducted for this project indicated that there is too much nuance
in energy storage system installations to create a “one-size-fits-all” permitting approach. For this reason,
the guidebook stays away from mandating a specific permitting process to be implemented by all AHJs in
California. Instead, the guidebook focuses on consolidating insights from AHJs across the state to share
permitting success stories that other AHJs might pull from when looking to update and improve their own
permitting processes. The guidebook also is intended to serve as a guide in navigating applicable codes and
standards, which was identified as a key barrier to streamlined and efficient energy storage permitting. The
guidebook primarily focuses on the most common energy storage systems—small-scale, residential batteries.
More than 98.5% of the installed systems reported in the California Energy Storage System Survey are
residential storage systems. The average residential energy storage size across 249,340 systems is 7 kW, with
a maximum size of 250 kW.
This guidebook does not address zoning, environmental reviews, or interconnection.
