Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook Version 1 - Flipbook - Page 31
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Energy Storage Guidebook
Glossary
AUTHORITIES HAVING JURISDICTION (AHJs)
Agencies that issue building permits. AHJs in California include cities and counties, who oversee most
of the permitting in their area, and state and federal agencies, who oversee permitting for certain kinds
of facilities or properties, such as K-12 schools or military bases, respectively.
BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS)
“A battery energy storage system (BESS) is an electrochemical device that charges or collects energy
from the grid or a distributed generation (DG) system and then discharges that energy later to provide
electricity or other services when needed.” (National Renewable Energy Lab [NREL], 2021) Residential
and commercial BTM battery technologies are typically composed of lithium-ion batteries.
BEHIND-THE-METER (BTM)
Electricity end users almost always have a meter at their site that calculates the amount of energy
consumed from the grid. A behind-the-meter installation refers to any equipment that is connected to
circuits on the customer side of the meter (Marsh, 2020).
CAPACITY
Energy storage system capacity is typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and is a measurement of
the power stored in the device. It provides an indication of electrical power that can be supplied over a
given time unit (McLaren, 2016).
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS (ESS)
Energy storage technologies store electricity as another form of energy (for example, electrochemical,
mechanical, thermal, and so forth) so it can be used to meet or shift power demand. “One or more
devices, assembled together, capable of storing energy in order to supply electrical energy at a future
time” (California Fire Code [CFC], 2019, Section 202).
GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG)
Greenhouse gases contribute to global climate change by altering the heat balance of the atmosphere.
kW/kWh
kW (small k, capital W)/kWh: kilowatt/kilowatt-hour.
MW/MWh
MW (all capitals)/MWh: megawatt/megawatt-hour.
NREL
National Renewable Energy Lab
TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL (TRL)
A measurement system used to determine the maturity level of a technology (NASA, 2021).