Engineering Compliance In Renewable Energy Projects

New Technical White Paper for Risk Engineers and Underwriters: UL 9540 / UL 9540A and NFPA 855 for Grid-Scale BESS As utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) grow in size and criticality, so do the risks associated with thermal runaway and fire propagation. Insurers, developers, and AHJs are turning to a trio of standards—UL 9540, UL 9540A, and NFPA 855—to quantify and manage these risks. I just published a detailed white paper that breaks these down specifically for underwriters, risk engineers, and loss control professionals. It includes: - A clear breakdown of UL 9540 product certification vs. UL 9540A fire propagation testing - How UL 9540A testing data is used to justify spacing, suppression, and installation strategies - How NFPA 855 ties it all together with enforceable installation requirements - Real-world case studies—both incident-driven and success stories - Practical compliance strategies to improve risk profiles and underwriting confidence If you work with battery energy storage systems—whether on the insurance, engineering, or regulatory side—this paper can help you ask better questions, validate designs, and understand what “UL 9540A-tested” really means. #BESS #UL9540 #UL9540A #NFPA855 #RiskEngineering #EnergyStorage #InsuranceEngineering #ThermalRunaway #Underwriting #FireProtection

I recently posted a piece on the EPEAT standard for PV. Let’s look at what it takes to meet this standard. Some EPEAT criteria relate to company policies like worker health and safety and responsible sourcing. Others cover items like reducing toxic substances, use of recycled materials, design for recycling and end of life management. Criteria are met by documenting company policies and practices to the satisfaction of a third party Conformance Assurance Body (CAB). And then there is the life cycle carbon footprint of the panel. Demonstrating carbon footprint can either use standardized values for the carbon intensity of PV panel components by country of origin from IEA life cycle inventory data or by detailed life cycle analyses for each component. These LCAs are generally done by suppliers and must follow the EPEAT rules to ensure consistency and comparability. In both cases documentation of the source of the components must be submitted to and confirmed by the CAB. CABs can ask for additional data until they are satisfied that a company has met the criteria and can require facility audits as part of the process. Meeting the EPEAT carbon footprint standard requires actions across the supply chain. These can include energy efficient technology selections, locating in lower carbon grids, use of low carbon energy through self generation or high quality renewable energy credits and the use of recycled content. For example, polysilicon fluidized bed reactors and direct wafer technologies have inherently lower energy consumption. Plant locations in hydro or other renewables rich grids, energy efficiency, power management measures and the use of solar glass and frames with high recycled content or alternative materials like polymers all reduce carbon footprint. Cell and module facilities can employ energy efficiency, locate in cleaner grids and use renewable energy for their operations. Company claims are verified in detail by independent LCA experts and CABs. Independent laboratory to confirm the mass of module components. Random audits are carried out to verify relevant information, and panel producers have to demonstrate annually that they continue to meet the criteria. The standardized process, the rigor of the criteria and detailed third party validation mean that purchasers can trust EPEAT registered modules to be the real deal. Purchasers do not have to assess competing claims and the details of company LCAs or chase suppliers for documentation. By specifying EPEAT they outsource all of that work to an independent not for profit entity that has been doing this work for over a decade. EPEAT is a global standard and applies regardless of the location of the manufacturing or the ownership of the company; it is purely a performance based standard intended to reward industry leadership and encourage continuous improvement by all PV manufacturers.

In a significant step towards advancing renewable energy integration, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has released a comprehensive report titled “Grid Codes for Renewable Powered Systems.” The publication offers an in-depth analysis and a set of recommendations aimed at developing and implementing grid connection codes essential for power systems with high shares of variable renewable energy (VRE), such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power. Grid codes play a crucial role in maintaining the stability, reliability, and efficiency of power systems, particularly as they increasingly incorporate renewable energy sources. The report underscores the importance of international cooperation and the harmonization of grid codes across regions to facilitate cross-border power trade and the sharing of technical knowledge. Examples from the European Union, North America, and other regions illustrate the benefits of coordinated efforts in developing robust grid codes. “Grid Codes for Renewable Powered Systems” provides a valuable resource for understanding the critical role of grid codes in the transition to renewable energy. By following the recommendations outlined in the report, policymakers and industry stakeholders can ensure the effective and reliable integration of VRE into power systems, thereby supporting the global shift towards sustainable energy sources. https://lnkd.in/ewe2qNPh