New storage operational safety guidelines released by Energy Storage Association

Storage businesses will now benefit from an additional safety resource, with the publication of the U.S. Energy Storage Association’s (ESA) Operational Safety Guidelines.

These guidelines provide a mix of codes, standards, and other guidelines linked to planning for and mitigation of various operational hazards. The ESA developed these guidelines from meetings with industry, codes and standards leaders, and other stakeholders throughout the year.

“The energy storage industry’s top priority is the safety of employees, first responders, and our communities,” ESA CEO Kelly Speakes-Backman said. “The ESA Corporate Responsibility Initiative puts our best experts together to create a library of vitally important educational resources on safety standards and guidelines to plan for possible hazards and mitigate risk. We’re proud to see dozens of industry leaders contributing to responsible management practices.”

The safety and planning guide builds on efforts already advanced by the Energy Storage Corporate Responsibility Initiative (CRI) task force and the corporate responsibility pledge, under which nearly 60 signatories have pledged to prioritize well-being and safety for their employees when deploying, integrating and operating energy storage resources over the coming years.

The ESA has also created an emergency response plan template, a white paper on operational risk management in the U.S. energy storage industry, and intends to address reuse, recycling, and safe disposal practices in the future.