If your electrical power generation infrastructure includes renewable energy sources, you’re already familiar with the importance of Battery Energy Storage Systems for efficiently storing captured energy until it’s ready to be distributed. You also know that the battery component of your BESS is a comparatively simple issue: You determine your power needs, and order the battery (or batteries) that match your specifications.
That’s where the simplicity ends, and our support begins. Whether you’re a substation owner, an engineer, or a construction contractor, understanding key considerations before ordering a BESS is critical. From sizing and integration to procurement and installation, this guide covers the essential factors you need to know, in order to ensure a smooth and successful deployment.
There’s more to BESS than batteries. A lot more.
When fielding requests for BESS quotes, we’ve learned customers typically need little to no help with the battery part. They send us the drawings. We prepare the quotes.
Where we deliver real value as a procurement partner is in ensuring that their battery(s) are optimally integrated into the substation, and that generally involves — for starters — an in-depth understanding of cabling Best Practices; the kind of understanding that, in our experience, only comes from experience.
It’s critical that your procurement partner knows how to make all the necessary cabling deliver as intended. That means knowing not only what will be the optimal cable for your needs, but how it will be routed through the substation. There’s also the issue of rack design and fabrication — ensuring that the racks are spec’d and built to support the cable’s weight, are at the optimal heights, and strong enough to meet your substation’s location-specific seismic and climate-condition demands; not to mention all the relevant codes. In general, these are the design and specification considerations we handle for our customers. Why? Because we can.
All of which is why we’re often asked to get involved on the front end, working with customers’ substation layouts — which enables us to offer the best possible support in ensuring that the batteries a customer wants will work with the cable routing they need. At the same time, we’ve worked with plenty of engineers whose cabling-system experience matches (or even exceeds) our own — in which case, we’re fully prepared to deliver exactly what we’re asked-for!
BESS issue #1 in 2025: Lead time.
It’s no secret the substation supply chain is a near-global disaster. The key issue in turnaround-time with BESS systems concerns the fabricators producing racks, and the key issues with that are your provider’s Personal Networks and Personal Relationships. Simply stated, if your procurement partner hasn’t built a nationwide network of quality, trusted fabricators — and treated them like valued and trusted partners, you can’t expect them to deliver the best possible solutions in the quickest possible fashion.
Key considerations before ordering a BESS
1. System Sizing and Capacity Requirements
- Determine the required energy storage capacity (MWh) based on load demand, peak shaving needs, and grid stability objectives.
- Consider discharge duration — short-duration (minutes) for frequency regulation vs. long-duration (hours) for load shifting.
- Ensure the battery technology (e.g., lithium-ion, flow batteries) aligns with performance requirements and environmental conditions.
2. Integration with Substation Infrastructure
- Evaluate compatibility with existing substation control and protection systems.
- Assess space availability for housing battery enclosures, inverters, and balance-of-plant equipment.
- Plan for thermal management and fire suppression systems to ensure safety and reliability.
3. Regulatory and Compliance Considerations
- Ensure your BESS complies with National Electrical Code (NEC), IEEE, and local utility standards.
- Address interconnection requirements with the grid operator.
- Consider environmental permitting and zoning regulations that may impact installation.
4. Procurement and Packaging
- Partner with a qualified substation packager with experience in BESS procurement.
- Ensure all components — controls, cables, structural steel and enclosures — are specified correctly to prevent delays.
- Opt for a turnkey provider to streamline project management and execution.
5. Installation and Commissioning
- Work with an experienced EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) provider to ensure proper installation.
- Implement rigorous testing and commissioning procedures to validate system performance before energization.
- Train substation personnel on BESS operation, maintenance and emergency response protocols.
About our BESS experience
We’ve designed, procured and delivered dependable turnkey solutions for dozens of BESS projects — ranging from the simplest to the most complex — including, the 2023 BESS addition for Florida Power & Light Company’s Manatee Power Plant; at the time, the largest project of its kind in the world. Whether you need assistance with procurement, integration, or complete EPC services, we have the expertise to deliver seamless and reliable energy storage solutions, regardless of your project’s size or scope.
Looking for BESS solutions you can trust?
Contact Jason Harris any time. 205-807-0414 | jharris@peaksubstation.com