Developing Lessons Learned, Best Practices, Training Materials, and Guidebooks for Customer Side of the Meter Energy Storage

The project engaged stakeholders and began drafting the energy storage permitting best practices guidebook.

Center for Sustainable Energy

Recipient

San Diego, CA

Recipient Location

39th

Senate District

78th

Assembly District

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$890,964

Amount Spent

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Active

Project Status

Project Update

CSE has published version 1 of the Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook through the CEC and held a public workshop to gather feedback. Version 2 of the Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook is expected to launch on the CSE website in May 2024. After version 2 launches, CSE will hold training workshops for the guidebook in the second half of 2024.

https://www.energystorageca.com/guidebook

The Issue

While behind-the-meter (BTM) energy storage is experiencing rapid technological advancement, cost reductions, and customer adoption through advanced initiatives and programs, energy storage permitting practices in California lack standardized processes among the 500+ local governments responsible for permitting all BTM energy storage systems. This lack of standardization makes permitting costs higher and can result in significant delays in project deployment.

Project Innovation

The project's goal is to develop a guidebook with concise, replicable permitting best practices for diverse types of BTM energy storage technologies that Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and industry can use to develop standardized, streamlined permitting processes. The best practices will be developed using input gathered from key stakeholders such as permitting officials, energy storage developers, first responders, and codes and standards professionals. The project's goal is to develop a guidebook with concise, replicable permitting best practices for diverse types of BTM energy storage technologies that Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and industry can use to develop standardized, streamlined permitting processes. The best practices will be developed using input gathered from key stakeholders such as permitting officials, energy storage developers, first responders, and codes and standards professionals.

Project Benefits

This project will result in a replicable, actionable set of guidelines that AHJs can implement and modify to meet local needs. This will be done via a standardized permitting review and approval process created for BTM energy storage systems. Stakeholders throughout the state will provide input for guidebook content and help disseminate best practices of energy storage permitting.

Lower Costs

Affordability

Streamlining and standardizing the permitting process for behind the meter energy storage will save customers, permitting authorities, and builders and contractors time and money.

Consumer Appeal

Consumer Appeal

By providing a user-friendly approach to permitting, the guidebook reduces the barrier to entry for parties interested in adopting energy storage, making it easier to implement more clean energy solutions.

Key Project Members

Project Member

Kelly Leathers

Associate Manager

Subrecipients

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory

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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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Guidehouse Inc.

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California Solar and Storage Association

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Match Partners

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory

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Center for Sustainable Energy

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Contact the Team

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