Draft Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook: Version 1

This guidebook was developed to accelerate the adoption of behind-the-meter energy storage systems of less than 1 megawatt in size. The goal is to help those who work at building safety agencies and those who develop, design, and install energy storage systems to coalesce around a shared set of best practices so that behind-the-meter energy storage systems can be permitted efficiently and installed safely. The guidebook content will be provided on a website and formatted to align with website usability best practices. This report will gather public comment before publication online.

The guidebook first provides background information on the purpose and scope of the guidebook, the research supporting this document, the California building code relevant to energy storage, and an overview of the permit review process. Then it offers guidance for implementing electronic and automated permitting systems for home energy storage systems and provides relevant training resources. The guidebook concludes with next steps for collaboration and policy refinement and provides appendices with additional useful resources, including a list of energy storage technology definitions, checklists, supplemental training materials, and references (in Appendix G).