Question 1

What is a Battery Energy Storage System?

Accepted Answer

A battery energy storage system (BESS) is a facility that can store excess electricity from the electric grid and discharge it when it’s needed. The main equipment in a BESS are battery enclosures that house battery modules, controls and safety systems.

Question 2

Why is battery energy storage needed?

Accepted Answer

Batteries can discharge stored energy in fractions of a second. This helps add greater reliability and resilience to the electrical grid helping avoid blackouts, brownouts, and higher energy prices.

Question 3

How large is a BESS facility?

Accepted Answer

BESS facilities can create many benefits with a relatively small footprint. Typically, a 150-200 MW BESS facility has a footprint of about 10 - 20 acres. A project of this size can potentially deliver enough power for roughly 150,000 homes. (Source: US Energy Information Association)

Question 4

What are the benefits of BESS?

Accepted Answer

Battery storage provides a modern update to help make the electric grid work better, reducing blackouts and brownouts and helping control electric prices.

Question 5

Why are you building the project in our community?

Accepted Answer

Our projects are located in areas that can benefit from additional power resources. We site projects close to existing electric infrastructure so we can help create the most benefits with minimum impacts.

Question 6

How often are crews managing and monitoring the site?

Accepted Answer

Operations crews remotely monitor each site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The sites are monitored by the operations center and the battery supplier’s control center. Additionally, regularly scheduled on-site maintenance will be performed by local technicians.

Question 7

What is the lifespan of a BESS?

Accepted Answer

The lifespan of a typical BESS is approximately 20 years.

Question 8

What happens at the end of a project’s life?

Accepted Answer

When a BESS reaches the end of its lifespan, it is decommissioned. That means that the project is dismantled and removed, and the land is returned to its original condition. As an owner and operator, Spearmint Energy is responsible for the cost and completion of decommissioning.

Question 9

Can battery storage systems be recycled?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Spearmint is committed to helping advance the circular economy in which recyclable materials are reused and recycled. Battery recycling is already a growing business in the United States.

Question 10

Are battery energy storage systems safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our facilities will comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code 855, the strongest safety code for energy storage systems in the world. 24/7 monitoring can prevent emergencies by shutting off any portion of the system that isn't operating properly. BESS equipment is designed and tested for safety.

Question 11

Will the batteries create a risk for soil, groundwater, or waterways?

Accepted Answer

The lithium iron phosphate cells are sealed in modules that are enclosed in racks that are sealed inside of purpose-built enclosures, which are placed on concrete pads.

With all these layers of containment, the risk of anything getting outside of an enclosure is incredibly low. Any malfunction in a battery cell would typically automatically shut off the affected equipment and trigger a response from the operations team.

Question 12

Do BESS operations impact the people living nearby?

Accepted Answer

BESS facilities will not create any significant traffic or visual impacts during normal operations. The limited sound created by a BESS is primarily related to the HVAC system and inverters. Proper design and siting can help ensure that sound from BESS facilities does not impact the community.

Question 13

Will local fire departments and EMS be able to handle a battery facility?

Accepted Answer

We provide training to local first responders before any of our projects begin operation. No special firefighting equipment is required and our project designs help minimize risks to the community. In a worst-case scenario, fire departments would only be asked to work with our team to monitor the situation and would not be expected to intervene.

Question 14

What if a fire occurs at a battery storage facility?

Accepted Answer

While our projects are built with multiple levels of safety to prevent fires, we always prepare for the worst. We will train local fire departments on BESS safety and emergency response. Our emergency response plans put the health and safety of the public, first responders, and our staff before our equipment. As the project owner, we are responsible for all cleanup and ongoing maintenance of our facilities.

Battery Storage Questions & Answers