Renewable energy electrical safety guide released

A new safety guide has been released to provide electrical safety guidelines for lithium-based battery storage equipment.

The Best Practice Guide: Battery Storage Equipment — Electrical Safety Requirements is the result of extensive collaboration between manufacturers, importers, safety regulators and other industry bodies.

It includes suggested safety requirements for:

• battery modules (BM) — one or more cells linked together for use in other equipment
• pre-assembled battery systems (BS) — a complete package for connection to a DC bus or DC input of power conversion equipment (PCE)
• pre-assembled integrated battery energy storage systems (BESS) — a complete package that has AC output for connection to the electrical installation.
   

In addition, it includes details of what should be supplied with the equipment including:

• declaration of compliance or certification
• technical datasheets and safety data sheets
• installation, operating and maintenance instructions.
   

Those installing lithium-based battery storage systems should ask their supplier for evidence the battery equipment complies with the guide. Installing battery storage equipment that complies with the guide will assist them in their duties to ensure the installation is electrically safe.

The guide does not cover electrical installation requirements for batteries. Installation of battery storage equipment referred to in the guide should still follow appropriate safety standards. Installation safety practices should include undertaking a suitable risk assessment and adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions, industry accepted guides, the Wiring Rules AS/NZS 3000 and the proposed battery system installation standard, when published.

Download the Best Practice Guide: Battery Storage Equipment — Electrical Safety Requirements here.

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