NECA Releases Recommended Practice for Installing Energy Storage Systems

 June 23, 2017

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) has published NECA 416 – 2016, Recommended Practice for Installing Energy Storage Systems (ESS).

The voluntary standard describes methods and procedures for installing multiple types of energy storage systems.

It also includes information about controlling and managing energy storage systems, in addition to commissioning and maintaining energy storage systems.

This new standard focuses specifically on installations of battery systems, flywheels, ultra-capacitors, and electric vehicle (EV) smart charger vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies that are used for storing electrical energy in premises wiring systems. Installer and inspector checklists are included in the document. It also provides insight and provisions for people installing and providing energy storage system services for their customers.

Energy storage systems are essential to renewable sources such as PV and wind systems, and provide demand response and load levelling operating characteristics in large scale applications. This new quality performance standard covers the essential good workmanship elements of common energy storage system installations and provides important guidelines for addressing commissioning and maintenance of such systems. It provides a consistent foundation to build from, when determining and implementing energy storage system use in new installations and existing systems, stand-alone systems, micro-grids, and other systems where back-up power and continuity of electric service are essential.

The content of NECA 416 is also aligned directly with the minimum requirements in new Article 706 of the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC®).

Find out more: www.necanet.org/store/product/neca-416-2016-recommended-practice-for-installing-energy-storage-systems-416-16.