Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook - Report - Page 6
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Energy Storage Guidebook
Preface
Welcome to the Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook
Energy storage is a key technology that can improve
reliability in homes, businesses, and other locations
while helping the electrical grid integrate renewable
distributed energy resources and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. The California Energy Commission
(CEC), through its Electric Program Investment
Charge (EPIC) grant program, funded research to
identify barriers and best practices in energy storage
permitting across the state with the goal of developing
a resource guide to accelerate wider adoption of
behind-the-meter (BTM) energy storage systems.
This guidebook consolidates success stories, lessons
learned, and guidance for navigating codes and
standards to simplify permitting BTM energy storage
systems for all stakeholders involved, including
authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), system designers, and installers. The guidebook also incorporates
recommendations and guidance gathered from a diverse technical advisory committee representing
perspectives from municipal and industry stakeholders across the state.
This guidebook contains five main sections:
Section 1: Purpose and Use of this Guide – The guidebook’s first section provides introductory
information, including background information on its purpose, its scope, and the research supporting
its contents.
Section 2: Codes and Standards Impacting Energy Storage Permitting – The second section focuses on
the codes and standards that impact energy storage permitting in California. This includes the state
building codes relevant to energy storage, product safety standards, and guidance on how to navigate
these codes and standards.
Section 3: Energy Storage Permit Process – The next section covers a typical energy storage permitting
process and highlights examples of successful permitting processes implemented by various AHJs
across the state.
Section 4: Electronic and Automated Permitting Systems – The fourth section offers guidance for
implementing electronic and automated permitting systems for residential energy storage systems and
provides relevant training resources.
Section 5: Permitting Resources – The concluding section consolidates a variety of resources for both
AHJs and energy storage installers/designers.
This guidebook is a living document that will be updated periodically to reflect changes to codes and
standards and in response to user feedback. This guidebook highlights best practices for permitting standard
residential energy storage systems, provides guidance on navigating applicable codes and standards,
and provides step-by-step recommendations on integrating online permitting software into existing
permitting processes.
For questions, corrections, or comments, contact the guidebook team at
storage.guidebook@energycenter.org.
