Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Consulting

Our BESS consultants have tested thousands of batteries for many major manufacturers. We develop custom test procedures based on specific BESS use cases and energy demands, providing stakeholders with the insights needed to design and develop grid-scale energy storage systems that can withstand use over years and decades. Exponent specializes in gathering and interpreting difficult-to-obtain battery testing data.

Grid-level energy storage is crucial for many renewable energy projects. Exponent has decades of experience assisting utilities with complex construction projects, grid hardening, and grid modernization. We can help utilities assess and integrate BESS into their existing electricity grids alongside new renewable energy projects.

What happens to BESS when disaster strikes? Exponent's risk management and safety experts can develop safety procedures and best practices for utilities that operate or integrate BESS into their grids. We can help operators draft safety documentation, plan emergency response, and mitigate or prevent the environmental effects of BESS failures. Exponent's BESS consultants can also investigate system failures, conduct root-cause analysis, and evaluate the fate, transport, and human exposure of BESS constituents released to air, water, and soil.

Exponent's engineering experts have experience in technical analysis of BESS. Our capabilities include design assessments and operational and performance reviews from the cell level to the system level. We have evaluated a host of enabling technologies, including individual cells, battery management systems, inverters and power electronics, control systems, environmental and emergency systems (such as HVAC and fire suppression), and grid interface for charge and export. Our team is adept at evaluating contracts for performance and technical requirements, including technical analysis of warranty requirements.

Our fire prevention and protection engineering teams employ a deep knowledge of BESS fire dynamics and propagation, burning behavior of materials, and performance of fire protection equipment to engineer systems for large-scale outdoor BESS installations. We can help evaluate fire suppression, detection, and alarm systems at BESS facilities and help operators understand, comply with, and go beyond standard codes and regulatory requirements.

Fire and explosion prevention is critical for data centers using lithium-ion (Li-ion) uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Unlike lead-acid batteries, Li-ion batteries do not off-gas during operation but can produce large quantities of combustible gas during thermal runaway. These Li-ion power backup systems require extensive emergency ventilation and specialized fire prevention systems. Our experts can evaluate your current data center ventilation and fire/explosion prevention systems to determine how they will perform in a Li-ion thermal runaway event. We can help you engineer safety systems into data center power backup facilities to mitigate fire and explosion risks and assist with emergency planning.