A review of IEC 62933-5-1 and 62933-5-2 with a focus on electrical hazard risk reduction for electrical consultants and contractors

Standards

This paper examines IEC 62933-5-1, Electrical Energy Storage (EES) Systems – Part 5-1: Safety Considerations for Grid-Integrated EES Systems – General Specification, and IEC 62933-5-2, Electrical Energy Storage (EES) Systems – Part 5-2: Safety Requirements for Grid-Integrated EES Systems – Electrochemical-Based Systems. It discusses the relevance of these standards for electrical engineers involved in the design and construction of utility-scale battery energy storage systems. The paper outlines the hazard mitigation approach described in these standards and lists the various types of hazards that this standard recommends to address, including electrical, mechanical, and fire. Hazard mitigation responsibilities extend beyond equipment manufacturers to also include electrical design engineers, such as those employed by consulting firms or EPCs. This is particularly relevant to the reduction of electrical risks associated with lightning events or short-circuits originating from nearby substations. The paper concludes by providing an example of a 250MW 4-hour system, illustrating how adherence to IEEE standards (IEEE 998, IEEE 80) for lightning protection and earthing can contribute to reducing electrical hazards.