What is a battery energy storage system (BESS) warranty?

As challenging as warranties are for battery energy storage system (BESS) owners and operators, it is possible for there to be more clarity. Look no further than how the automotive industry handles electric vehicle warranties. They are simple and flexible, typically covering time (usually eight years) and mileage (usually 100,000 miles).

Does the warranty model for energy storage systems keep pace?

Inflexible and complex, the warranty model for energy storage systems has failed to keep pace with rapid market growth, the authors argue. This is an extract of a feature article that originally appeared in Vol.41 of PV Tech Power, Solar Media’s quarterly journal covering the solar and storage industries.

How important is a battery warranty?

The underlying battery chemistry and construction also greatly affect design, controls, and reliability. The value of a warranty will often be something the utility, operator, or investor needs to evaluate.

How to track battery warranty status?

To track the warranty status of diverse battery assets with varying penalty formulas, owners and operators increasingly switch from quarterly spreadsheet exercises to predictive monitoring platforms. The three most common performance warranty guarantees for BESS sites. Image: ACCURE

What voids a battery warranty?

1. End-of-Life SoH Warranty: Promises a specific SoH (typically 70–80%) by the end of the warranty period if the battery is used within the – often narrow – operating conditions laid out in the warranty contract. Exceeding these conditions, even due to issues such as sensor errors or control system malfunctions, can void the warranty. 2.

Can Bess warranties be reformed?

Valentin Lorscheid and Dr. Kai-Philipp Kairies of ACCURE Battery Intelligence propose ways in which BESS warranties can be reformed as the industry matures. Inflexible and complex, the warranty model for energy storage systems has failed to keep pace with rapid market growth, the authors argue.