Charlottetown householders pull plug on battery storage system due to electrical code

Charlottetown householders pull plug on battery storage system due to electrical code

Hank and Teresa Spierenburg had been trying ahead to having backup battery energy throughout the subsequent storm outage — after being with out electrical energy for 10 days after post-tropical storm Fiona.

They just lately put in photo voltaic panels on their Charlottetown house by the Swap house power program, and determined so as to add two batteries at $1,500 every — not sufficient for all of their electrical wants, however the important thing ones.

However shortly after the batteries had been put in, they needed to be eliminated, as a result of they didn’t go {the electrical} inspection. 

The Spierenburgs mentioned they had been advised that, below the brand new Canadian Electrical Code, which took impact in 2021, power storage programs might be put in in garages of dwellings, immediately mounted to a constructing, put in in or on a indifferent storage, storage constructing, or free-standing construction, however cannot be throughout the house itself.

The batteries have now been faraway from the Spierenburgs’ house due to {the electrical} code guidelines. (Shane Hennessey/CBC )

“Apparently they’re okay in a separate location or in a storage, however in our case we do not have a storage so we had to surrender on the batteries, sadly,” Hank Spierenburg mentioned.

“We had been very dissatisfied as a result of we had all these plans, and the rules are lagging behind.”

Spierenburg does not consider the batteries pose a danger.

“The know-how of the batteries has tremendously improved over time, and the chance that was there earlier than could be very minimal proper now,” he mentioned.

“Hopefully they improve {the electrical} code, and sooner or later, we’d be capable of use batteries.”

This was going to be the primary solar-battery venture funded by the Swap Charlottetown program. (Shane Hennessey/CBC )

In different jurisdictions, householders have constructed “battery sheds,” to retailer their battery storage programs, however they should maintain them at room temperature. Spierenburg mentioned he’s trying into different batteries that use a distinct know-how.

“I see this as a short lived setback, and hopefully within the subsequent six months or a 12 months, we are able to remedy this downside,” Spierenburg mentioned.

‘Regulation limbo’

Julian Boyle is president of PACE Atlantic, the Halifax-based firm that administers the Swap program.

“It is unlucky a house owner and a contractor acquired caught in, I suppose I might name it ‘regulation limbo.’ It is not unusual for brand spanking new applied sciences to be caught in a few of this regulatory gray space,” Boyle mentioned.

“Clearly an replace and a refresh of the rules on the Island would assist not solely the Spierenburgs however different householders seeking to set up battery and power storage programs to offer dependable electrical energy for them throughout grid outages.”

Julian Boyle, president of PACE Atlantic, says greater than half of photo voltaic householders are expressing curiosity in getting backup batteries versus a generator. (Shane Hennessey/CBC )

Boyle mentioned the demand is ramping up for battery storage programs, just like the one which the Spierenburgs wish to set up.

“It is a know-how that’s now most likely extra economical than placing in a backup diesel generator, and gives much more flexibility for the grid and home-owner,” Boyle mentioned.

“There’s a few thousand battery initiatives already within the pipeline right here in Nova Scotia, and I believe this can be coming to P.E.I. quickly as nicely.”

Boyle says the demand is ramping up for battery storage programs related to solar energy, just like the one which the Spierenburgs wish to set up. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)

Nova Scotia battery pilot

Nova Scotia Energy has been engaged on a venture referred to as Sensible Grid Nova Scotia, which features a battery storage pilot with about 130 clients throughout the province — some built-in with photo voltaic and a few not — utilizing two completely different battery programs.

“We’re studying all types of issues about battery storage. We’re studying about what clients need from a battery, and the way they’ll use a battery,” mentioned Ed Cullinan, supervisor of product improvement at Nova Scotia Energy.

A battery panel and two electrical panels installed on the interior wall of a building.
Ed Cullinan of Nova Scotia Energy says the batteries had been put in in 2021, and had been put to the check a number of instances throughout excessive climate occasions in 2022. (Ian Selig Photographer/Nova Scotia Energy)

“We have put in all of our batteries in garages, or in outbuildings which can be both adjoining to the property or disconnected from the house,” Cullinan mentioned.

“We had been lucky sufficient that we had numerous curiosity from members throughout the province, and we had been capable of finding clients the place we may place the batteries in appropriate areas.”

Cullinan mentioned the batteries had been put in in 2021, and had been put to the check a number of instances throughout excessive climate occasions in 2022.

We talked to all of our clients about their expertise with their batteries after Fiona, and had optimistic outcomes throughout the board.​​​​​Ed Cullinan, Nova Scotia Energy 

“Clients love the truth that it is immediately accessible within the occasion of an outage. Most do not even notice that the facility has gone out, and it is simply no mess, no fumes, no fuss, in comparison with a generator,” Cullinan mentioned.

“We talked to all of our clients about their expertise with their batteries after Fiona, and had optimistic outcomes throughout the board.”

Cullinan mentioned Nova Scotia Energy can be exploring different methods to make use of the battery storage programs.

“When the battery is on grid, we are able to truly function the battery, and create quite a lot of worth for the system,” Cullinan mentioned. 

“Absorbing extra wind as an alternative of curbing it, levelling the load on a sure feeder to scale back the strain on the system at any given time. That may simply assist us function the grid extra effectively and cut back prices for everybody.”

A Nova Scotia Energy crew works on energy traces close to Halifax throughout a 2021 storm. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

The three-year pilot will finish in 2023, however clients have the battery storage system for 10 years.

A spokesperson for the P.E.I. authorities despatched this response about battery storage programs: 

“It’s as much as every province, territory or jurisdiction to embrace the code, and on P.E.I., this observe wouldn’t be authorized below the code(s) which have been adopted. For very particular conditions, we at all times encourage all licensed electrical contractors to succeed in out to their native Electrical Inspector for steerage when they’re unsure of the code necessities.”