IEEE Publishes BMS Design Standards for Stationary Systems

New guidance document provides best practices for the design, configuration, and integration of battery management systems

Grid utility storage and other stationary energy storage systems have become essential technologies, stabilizing supply and demand in times of peak use, storing energy from wind and solar installations, and providing emergency power during outages caused by extreme weather events. Effective battery management systems (BMS) are key to maintaining the safety, reliability, and longevity of these critical resources.

In recognition of the importance of battery management for batteries used in stationary applications, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has published "IEEE Recommended Practice for Battery Management Systems in Stationary Energy Storage Applications" (IEEE 2686-2024), a document with detailed specifications and recommendations related to the design, configuration, integration, and security of BMS for battery manufacturers, battery energy storage system (BESS) managers, and other industry stakeholders.

The guidance was assembled by IEEE's Energy Storage and Stationary Battery Committee through a working group chaired by David Rosewater, a senior technical staff member at Sandia National Laboratories, and vice-chaired by Sergio Mendoza, a data scientist and senior manager at Exponent.

BESS BMS best practices

The guidance encompasses considerations for manufacturers and utilities, including: 

• Technologies, such as peripheral devices and subsystems, balancing methods, sensor types and placement, and physical and software architectures
• Configurations for grid-supporting and non-grid-supporting applications, including transportable energy storage systems that are stationary during operation
• Battery types, including lithium-ion (Li-ion), flow, sodium-β, and alkaline zinc-manganese (Zn-MnO2)
• Interoperability, including communications, cybersecurity access control, software update management, and minimum measurement accuracy and state-of-charge reporting standards

What's next for battery manufacturers and utilities?

IEEE's completion of this standard is a significant development for the battery industry, providing comprehensive BMS guidance for the design of stationary energy storage systems. It provides a framework for various system configurations, battery types, and technologies, enabling BESS manufacturers and utilities to enhance the reliability, safety, and efficiency of their systems. Key uses of the document include:

• Defining guidelines for monitoring and managing battery state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH)
• Creating a framework to characterize sensor accuracy and redundancy to mitigate malfunctioning of protection mechanisms
• Implementing fault detection and diagnostic procedures to identify and mitigate potential risks
• Enhancing data communication and interoperability between different components of the energy storage system
• Establishing criteria for the safe integration of BESS into the grid and other applications
• Providing guidelines for maintenance and lifecycle management to extend battery longevity

The IEEE's guidance document reflects the increasing role of energy storage in integrating renewable energy and providing grid stability and the critical role played by the BMS — responsible for balancing the cells in a system and ensuring they operate within safe temperature, voltage, and current limits.

By adopting the best practices compiled in the IEEE's document, utilities and BESS manufacturers can improve battery safety performance, reduce the risk of thermal runaway and battery-related fires, and more effectively deploy grid storage solutions at scale to meet the growing needs of communities and municipalities worldwide.