Acceptable DER's That Meet Back-up Power Requirements for Life Safety

[kingpb]

What are the acceptable technologies that can be used to meet the backup power requirements for life safety? For years, engine generators have been used. A separate feeder from a different substation can also be acceptable.

With the advent of microgrids for power generation, especially in an island mode operation, what DERs can be used to meet the back-up power requirements; specifically can BESS be used? Obviously Solar PV and wind is not going to be acceptable.

 

[tom baker]

What is a DER and BESS?

 

[gadfly56]

What is a DER and BESS?

Distributed Energy Resources

Battery Energy Storage System

 

[jaggedben]

Fuel cell would be fine, I think, but nobody's really using that as a DER.

I would think that a BESS of appropriate power rating, with or without PV for additional longevity, but likely with additional fuel generator for longevity, should fit the bill. But I haven't studied the codes on this.

 

[gadfly56]

Offhand, if a BESS is sized for the load I don't see a problem. It's just a really big UPS at that point.

 

[jaggedben]

700.5 mentions that systems that operate in parallel with the normal source shall comply with 705. In other words, the code would allow a solar+BESS system to act as an article 700 system. However, I'm not aware of solar+BESS manufacturers who are making equipment intended for net-metering and/or optional backup who are also getting their systems listed for emergency use as 700.5 also requires.

 

[kingpb]

Thanks all,

BESS manufacturers who are making equipment intended for net-metering and/or optional backup who are also getting their systems listed for emergency use as 700.5 also requires.

The way I am understanding this, is that the equipment itself must be listed for emergency use. So, even if say I used a TESLA 2MW battery, it has to be specifically rated for EM use.

 

[jaggedben]

Yes.
I believe the concern would be its reliability in providing the loads to emergency power in a sudden outage. Not that these systems designed for optional standby aren't pretty reliable, but emergency systems for life safety would be held to an even higher standard.