Due Diligence: What We Should Be Asking

When evaluating BESS technology for your next project, move beyond the spec sheet. Ask the questions that reveal the engineering philosophy of your supplier:

Critical Questions for BESS Evaluation

• Chemistry-Application Fit: "Is the cell chemistry optimized for stationary longevity (LFP) or automotive weight reduction (NMC)?"
• Thermal Propagation: "If a single cell fails, does the thermal barrier prevent propagation to neighboring cells? Has this been validated by UL 9540A testing?"
• Granularity of Data: "Does your BMS monitor voltage and temperature at the rack level, or down to the individual cell level? (Cell-level visibility is non-negotiable for safety.)"
• Active vs. Passive Balancing: "Does the system utilize active cell balancing to prevent voltage drift and extend cycle life, or does it rely on passive bleed resistors?"
• The AI Component: "Does the EMS use historical data to predict maintenance needs, or is it purely a reactive alarm system?"