Solar PV, Solar Ready, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) & BESS-Ready

The Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code) include requirements for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar-ready design, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and BESS-ready infrastructure. A solar PV system is prescriptively required for all newly constructed buildings. However, even if a building will not install a PV system, typically due to an exception, it must still meet mandatory solar-ready requirements to ensure the building is prepared for a future PV installation. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are prescriptively required for newly constructed nonresidential and high-rise multifamily buildings. These systems support load flexibility by allowing buildings to store and use their own energy. Newly constructed single-family homes that will not install a BESS, must meet mandatory BESS-ready requirements to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to allow for a more cost-effective BESS future installation.