Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook Version 1 - Flipbook - Page 29
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Energy Storage Guidebook
Next Steps for Collaboration and Policy
Refinements
Policy Approaches and Next Steps
California has embarked on a historic quest to decarbonize the economy and cut greenhouse gas emissions
from buildings. The state has identified ESS as a key technology to help integrate renewable energy into
the grid, reduce emissions, and ensure that the power system is reliable and resilient. BTM energy storage
systems are important distributed energy resources that can help save ratepayers money while improving
reliability and reducing emissions.
This guidebook focuses on improving the permitting process for BTM storage systems of less than 1 MW in
capacity. At the time of publication, only battery-based systems qualify as appropriate for BTM applications
of this size. These systems come in a wide range of shapes and sizes but all can store power and return it to
a customer’s circuits or dispatch it to the grid. The California AHJ permitting process for standard residential
BTM ESS is moving toward electronic submission of plans and automated permit review systems. Passage of
California SB 379 requires AHJs to adopt automated and online review systems to provide rapid decisions on
permits for small solar and storage systems. Systems like SolarAPP+ provide AHJs a route to streamline the
residential permit review process. However, there is room to improve the process.
In researching the guidebook, the project team came across many barriers and best practices that are larger
than the scope of this publication but may be worth discussing further. These issues, listed in Table 3,
include the pace and timing of code adoption, the interpretation of codes and standards, and the training
and certification of plan checkers, field inspectors, contractors, and installers. Other issues worth further
exploration include how to best interconnect BTM ESS of different sizes to the electrical grid and how to
optimize the interconnection process across a wide range of IOU and municipal utilities.
Questions for further discussion at the state level include the following:
Should the California Building Standards Commission consider changing the process the state uses
to adopt building codes so that the pace is more rapid and/or better synchronized with the ICC and
NFPA codes?
Can the California Office of the State Fire Marshal provide interpretation of UL 9540A fire tests and
provide state-level guidance on how the results from a given test should affect code requirements for
the spacing or placement of ESS?
Should California provide training resources for certification of plan checkers or inspectors or both so
that AHJs can be sure that their staff is well-qualified to review plans and installations?