About BATRIES

Building a Technically Reliable Interconnection Evolution for Storage (BATRIES) is a three-year project focused on developing solutions to a suite of critical barriers to energy storage interconnection to the distribution system. 

As a growing number of states adopt ambitious energy and climate targets, storage systems are increasingly a foundational tool in the clean energy transition thanks to the energy management services they provide, from supporting more control over the timing and amount of energy imported and exported to the grid, to the integration of renewables through frequency regulation.

These capabilities present both challenges and opportunities for storage interconnection. The BATRIES Toolkit and Guidance for the Interconnection of Energy Storage and Solar-Plus-Storage offers solutions to the below eight storage interconnection challenges, including model interconnection procedure language that regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders can reference in updating state interconnection rules:

• Lack of inclusion of storage in interconnection rules, and the lack of clarity as to whether and how existing interconnection rules (and related documents, such as application forms and agreements) apply to storage systems (Chapter II)
• Lack of inclusion of acceptable methods that can be used for controlling export of limited-and non-export systems in interconnection rules (Chapter III)
• Evaluation of non- and limited-export systems based on unrealistic operating assumptions that lead to overestimated grid impacts (Chapter IV)
• Lack of clarity regarding the impacts of inadvertent export from limited- and non-export systems and the lack of a uniform specification for export control equipment response times to address inadvertent export (Chapter V)
• Lack of information about the distribution grid and its constraints that can inform where and how to interconnect storage (Chapter VI)
• Lack of ability to make system design changes to address grid impacts and avoid upgrades during the interconnection review process (Chapter VII)
• States that have not incorporated updated standards into their interconnection procedures and technical requirements (Chapter VIII)
• Lack of defined rules and processes for the evaluation of operating schedules (Chapter IX)

BATRIES is supported by the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office and is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council with its partners, the Electric Power Research Institute, Solar Energy Industries Association, California Solar & Storage Association, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Inc., PacifiCorp, and Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP.^[1]Note: The Energy Storage Association (ESA) was a partner on the BATRIES project through December 2021, before merging with the American Clean Power Association (ACP) in January 2022. ACP is not a … Continue reading

For more information on upcoming presentations, webinars, trainings, and other stakeholder engagement opportunities to learn more about the BATRIES energy storage interconnection solutions, please subscribe to the newsletter about this project or get in touch with the project team using this form.