Guide to Battery Energy Storage Regulatory Compliance

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)  is an integrated system that uses batteries as the storage medium to achieve electrical energy input, storage, and output through controlled charging and discharging processes.It consists of components such as battery modules, battery management system (BMS), power conversion system (PCS), energy management system (EMS), and auxiliary system. The basic functions are peak shaving and valley filling, grid frequency regulation, and maintaining grid stability. It is widely used in power systems, commercial and industrial BESS, and residential energy storage. Based on the final assembly form, BESS can be categorized into cabinet-style energy storage systems and containerized energy storage systems.

In the blog, we will discover the standards and regulators for battery energy storage systems in Europe, North America, Australia, and China.

CB Certification Scheme

The CB (Certification Body) scheme is a voluntary certification system established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to achieve the goal of "one product, one test, one mark, acceptance everywhere." CB test reports and certificates are recognized by member countries of the CB scheme and numerous organizations, allowing them to be converted into national certifications for multiple countries. This makes the CB certification highly valuable in international trade.

Standards for energy storage systems and battery energy storage systems under the IEC framework are being progressively developed and refined. The table below lists some of the already published standards:

Europe

Under the framework of the European Green Deal, the European Union has set a strategic goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Battery energy storage technology has become a critical enabler for the transformation of its energy system. In recent years, the EU has introduced policies such as the Energy Storage Action Plan and the New Battery Regulation to standardize the energy storage technology framework and promote the development of the energy storage market.

Currently, Europe has established comprehensive technical requirements and a stringent regulatory system for BESS, covering multiple aspects such as safety, performance, installation, and electromagnetic compatibility. Specific details are as follows:

The mandatory access requirements in the European region are based on regulations and directives. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) must comply with the regulations and directives listed in the table above. Among these, the New Battery Regulation, RoHS Directive, EMC Directive, and LVD Directive fall under the scope of CE marking. Compliance requires issuing a Declaration of Conformity, archiving technical documentation, and affixing the conformity marking. The conformity assessment process for CE marking may involve the participation of a Notified Body (NB). In contrast, the REACH regulation is not part of the CE marking framework. It specifies the types and concentration limits of restricted substances, as well as the requirements for Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) in articles. The primary compliance method for REACH is conducting tests on restricted substance content and providing test reports. European standards that are not cited by regulations or directives are non-mandatory. Their conformity can be demonstrated through test reports.

In addition to the unified requirements at the EU level, compliance for battery energy storage systems must also be assessed according to the regulatory requirements of individual EU member states, particularly regarding the installation and grid-connection of energy storage systems. For example, in Germany, all photovoltaic power generation and energy storage systems must complete ZEREZ registration to connect to the grid. Lithium-ion batteries used in energy storage systems must comply with standards such as VDE-AR-E 2510-50 "Safety Requirements for Lithium-Ion Batteries in Stationary Battery Energy Storage Systems."

North America

Driven by market incentives and policy support, the North American energy storage market has experienced rapid growth in recent years, with the United States now established as the world's second-largest market for energy storage. According to a report by the American Clean Power Association (ACP), the newly installed capacity of energy storage systems in the U.S. reached 12.3 GW/37.1 GWh in 2024. The North American market imposes stringent requirements on energy storage battery products, with relatively high barriers to entry, primarily concerning safety, environmental protection, and other critical aspects:

Australia

To address climate change and achieve energy transition, the Australian federal government has introduced the Renewable Energy Target (RET), aiming to increase the share of renewable energy to 82% by 2030. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) play a critical role in this effort by storing electricity and supplying power to the grid during peak demand periods, effectively balancing grid load and enhancing the stability and reliability of renewable energy systems.

In Australia, renewable energy systems are categorized based on their capacity and scale, allowing them to participate in either the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) or the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET). This classification aims to promote the development of renewable energy projects of different sizes through differentiated policies, with each category subject to distinct compliance requirements.

Starting from July 1, 2025, residential photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems falling under the SRES will be eligible to apply for subsidies, reducing installation costs by approximately 30%. Before installation or applying for SRES, products must first complete CEC listing in accordance with the Best Practice Guide. The following standards are involved in the CEC listing process:

CEC listing requires products to first undergo testing according to the above-mentioned standards. Upon completion of testing, relevant documentation (including test reports and certificates, installation manuals, SDS, etc.) must be uploaded to the CEC website. The product will then be published on the website after CEC approval.

For battery energy storage systems outside the scope of CEC listing, the following standards apply:

China

As the largest market in BESS sector, China plays the essential role in global energy transition. In recent years, the industry has undergone rapid evolution,shifting from being policy-driven to market-driven. According to statistics from the China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA),the capacity of newly deployed energy storage projects in China has reached 43.7GW/109.8GWh, with major installations located in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.

With the rapid expansion of BESS deployment, pressures to prevent and control industry safety risk within the industry are becoming increasingly prominent.Since 2024, multiple national safety standards have been introduced, marking a new phase in the safety regulation of energy storage in China. Driven by the updated safety standards,improved policy mechanism, and optimized market conditions, the BESS sector in China is transitioning toward premium-quality products,intelligent solutions, and globalization development.

Both the GB 44240 and GB/T 36276 standards cover requirements for lithium-ion batteries used in the electric energy storage.Among them, GB 44240 is a mandatory national standard that must be complied with, while GB/T 36276 specifies requirements for energy storage applications in power systems,and energy storage systems deployed on the grid side must meet this standard.

The two standards also differ in their emphasis:

• GB/T 36276 not only address the safety requirements,but also the performance requirements.

• GB 44240 mainly focus on safety requirements.

Therefore,battery systems used in electrical energy storage applications are expected to comply with both standards. However, certification is not mandatory. Compliance can be demonstrated through test reports issued by accredited bodies.

At present, there is no mandatory certification requirement for battery energy storage systems or their components. Both CQC (China Quality Certification Centre) and CGC (China General Certification Centre) can issue voluntary certifications. The certification process includes type testing and factory audits.

Other Regions

In addition to the major markets mentioned above, other countries and regions have also established safety and certification requirements for battery energy storage systems. For example, India has included lithium batteries used in photovoltaic energy storage systems under the mandatory BIS certification.

The following are some of the standards and certification requirements in selected countries and regions: