The Clean Energy Council along with the Australian Industry Group, the Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association, CSIRO and the Smart Energy Council has released new lithium battery guidelines that will put Australia at the head of the pack on safety.
The Best Practice Guide: Battery Storage Equipment – Electrical Safety Requirements will work in tandem with a risk matrix to provide important guidance for professionals installing energy storage units. The risk matrix will help professionals working with battery storage technology to identify and manage any risks and ensure a safe installation of battery systems.
Clean Energy Council director of Smart Energy Darren Gladman told Ecogeneration that the product and installation guidelines will give consumers increased confidence that the batteries being installed in their homes and businesses are safe and have been installed to high standards of workmanship.
“We need energy storage to help with the transition to a grid that is dominated by renewable electricity generation. Energy storage will help to make the renewable electricity system of the future cheaper, cleaner and more reliable.”
Gladman says that most battery energy storage systems (BESS) are classified as hazardous waste/and or a dangerous good at the end of their life.
“As such, used batteries must be managed carefully to avoid any environmental damage and to protect the health and safety of the professionals handling the system and the general community.”
To avoid injury and comply with standards, the CEC have provided some basic guidelines:
• Most used batteries still hold a residual charge when they reach the end of their life. Do not cut cables without taking adequate precautions.
• To avoid electric shock or short circuit, do not place metal objects on top of batteries and insulate terminals to prevent short circuit.
• Check for damaged or leaking batteries, these need to be wrapped and handled with extra care.
• Wear protective clothing when handling used batteries.
• Different classes of dangerous goods must not be mixed together during storage or transport e.g. lead acid batteries are a Class 8 product and lithium-ion batteries are Class 9.
• Keep batteries away from potential sparks or flames. Store them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.
• Ensure that staff receives adequate training when storing or handling used batteries and that appropriate management systems are in place.
The guide applies to lithium-based battery storage equipment and includes suggested safety requirements for:
• Battery module (BM) is one or more cells linked together. May also have incorporated electronics for monitoring, charge management and/or protection. Battery modules are installed within pre-assembled battery system equipment or pre-assembled integrated battery energy storage system equipment or as part of a master/slave configuration of such equipment.
• Pre-assembled battery system (BS) is a system comprising one or more cells, modules or battery system, and auxiliary supporting equipment such as a battery management system and protective devices and any other required components as determined by the equipment manufacturer. A BS system does not include a Power Conditioning Equipment (PCE). Pre-assembled battery system equipment comes in a dedicated enclosure. The equipment is a complete package for connection to a dc bus or dc input of a PCE.
• Pre-assembled integrated battery energy storage system (BESS) is a battery energy storage system manufactured as a complete integrated package with the PCE, one or more cells, modules or battery system, protection devices, power conditioning equipment and any other required components as determined by the equipment manufacturer. Pre-assembled integrated battery energy storage system equipment is supplied in a dedicated enclosure. Integrated battery energy storage system equipment is a complete package that has ac output for connection to the electrical installation.
The guide covers battery storage equipment with a rated capacity of equal to or greater than 1kWh and up to and including 200kWh of energy storage capacity when measured at 0.1C.
“We expect that the best practice guidelines will be widely and rapidly adopted by industry and taken up by regulators and distribution networks. The CEC is working closely with safety regulators to ensure that Australia is at the head of the pack worldwide when it comes to battery product safety,” said Gladman.
“There is now a robust Australian system of standards and guidelines in place for batteries being installed in Australia. What is missing is this framework being a pre-requisite for state and federal government battery programs. The clean energy industry is working with all governments to ensure this framework is in place to protect consumers as the rollout of battery technologies accelerates.”
The Best Practice Guide: Battery Storage Equipment – Electrical Safety Requirements and associated risk matrix are online and available for download at batterysafetyguide.com.au
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Putting Australia ahead of the pack
