Overview
Safety for lithium batteries storage systems is defined by standards and guidelines:
UL9540 which defines fire resistance and certification for lithium battery cells.
UL9540A which defines fire safety for battery storage modules and systems.
NFPA855 guidelines from US Fire safety committee which provides recommendations for the safe installation of battery energy storage systems.
Environmental regulations in the EU area are now defined clearly in regulation EU 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries. EU 2023/1542 requires:
increasing recycling and reuse of battery cells and materials
full traceability requirements for battery modules.
In addition, there are national environmental requirements, mostly:
Noise pollution from BESS containers for nearby housing and for animals.
Transformer oil containment via a tank to prevent any leakage in the event of a major failure.