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Power Efficiency

Battery Energy Storage System

BESS

Large-scale battery installations that store electrical energy for grid balancing, peak shaving or backup power, increasingly used alongside or instead of diesel generators.

Unit: MW / MWh

Full Definition

<p>A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a grid-connected or behind-the-meter installation of battery modules (typically lithium iron phosphate, LFP) that can charge from the grid or on-site generation and discharge to serve loads. In data centres, BESS is used for peak demand shaving, UPS replacement or extension, grid services revenue and — at larger scales — as a primary backup power source reducing reliance on diesel generation.</p><p>BESS capacity is typically measured in MWh (energy) and MW (power). A 10 MW / 20 MWh system can deliver full rated power for two hours. Unlike diesel gensets, BESS responds in milliseconds and produces no local emissions. Battery degradation (typically 20% over 10 years), thermal management, fire suppression and end-of-life recycling are key design and operational considerations.</p>

Also Known As

grid batterybehind the meter storageLFP storage

Source Reference

NFPA 855 — Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems

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