UL certification refers to the certification issued by Underwriters Laboratories, a US-based safety laboratory, which aims to ensure that products meet safety, environmental, and sustainable development standards. In the application of renewable energy and power storage systems, UL certification is especially important as it can help ensure the safety and reliability of products, reducing potential risks and losses.
UL1973, UL9540, and UL9540A are particularly important for achieving the safety of renewable energy and power storage systems. With more and more households and businesses using renewable energy such as solar and wind power to replace traditional energy sources, the demand for these systems is constantly increasing. At the same time, power storage systems are widely used in smart grids, emergency backup power, and other areas. Therefore, ensuring the safety and reliability of these systems is of great significance in safeguarding public life and property.
This article introduces several certifications such as UL1973, UL9540, and UL9540A, and their importance and their advantages for battery energy storage systems. Additionally, we will explore the advantages of companies with UL certification compared to other competitors and propose further thinking questions.
UL1973 was initially released on February 15, 2013. It is a safety standard for energy storage battery systems in North America and serves as a dual national standard for the United States and Canada. The standard mainly covers various types of battery systems used for fixed, vehicle auxiliary power, LER, photovoltaic, wind power, backup power, and communication base stations. It includes structural evaluation and testing evaluation of energy storage systems, but this standard is only a safety standard and does not include performance and reliability evaluations.
This critical standard for manufacturers has recently been updated to the third edition. The scope of the standard includes battery cells, battery modules, battery packs/racks, and battery management systems.
UL 9540 is a safety standard for energy storage systems (ESS) and related equipment, applicable to stand-alone applications or those connected to a local utility grid. It outlines various critical considerations related to ESS, such as the safety of battery systems, functional safety, fire detection suppression, containment, environmental performance, and so on.
The UL 9540 standard stipulates that the energy capacity of electrochemical ESS equipment must not exceed the following:
Outdoor wall-mounted ESS for electrochemical purposes should not exceed 20 kWh (72 MJ).
Residential electrochemical ESS should not exceed 20 kWh (72 MJ).
Non-residential electrochemical ESS should not exceed 50 kWh (180 MJ).
UL9540A certification is a safety certification for battery energy storage systems (BESS) provided by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the United States. This certification covers the safety risk assessment and testing of the entire battery energy storage system to ensure its safety under normal operations, abnormal conditions, and accident situations.
The certification requires multiple tests to be conducted on the battery energy storage system, including temperature cycling tests, impact tests, battery short circuit tests, and flame tests, among others, to verify its safety and stability. In addition, evaluations and tests are also required for various aspects such as the control system, fire protection system, mechanical structure, and ventilation system, to ensure that the entire system complies with the latest safety standards.
The UL9540A testing method follows a four-stage hierarchical structure:
Cell-level testing: At this level, UL examines the thermal runaway potential, characteristics, and flammability of the battery.
Module-level testing: The main purpose of this stage is to determine whether thermal runaway spreads within the module and measure its heat release and gas composition.
Unit-level testing: This stage involves examining the entire cell to determine the speed of fire spread, heat and gas release rates, and other potential hazards.
Installation-level testing: This is an optional test to evaluate the fire resistance effectiveness of the product in the installation environment.
Battery energy storage systems certified by UL9540A have higher safety and reliability, and can better protect personnel, equipment, and the environment from the impact of battery failures or accidents. This certification helps promote the development and application of battery energy storage technology and facilitates the widespread use of renewable energy.
The UL9540A certification and UL9540 standard are safety certification standards for battery energy storage systems. Although they are very similar and easy to confuse, there are differences between them:
Different scopes of application: The UL9540 standard applies to energy storage systems, while the UL9540A certification is more focused on battery energy storage systems. The UL9540A certification requires products to use lithium-ion or lead-acid battery technology.
Different certification standards: The UL9540 standard mainly focuses on the overall safety of energy storage systems, including controllers, inverters, and cables. The UL9540A certification is more focused on the safety of batteries and battery management systems, such as issues related to thermal runaways and overcharging of batteries.
Different certification processes: To obtain UL9540A certification, companies need to first apply for UL9540 certification. Based on passing the UL9540 certification, additional testing and evaluation are required to ensure that it meets the requirements of UL9540A certification.
In summary, although UL9540 and UL9540A certification are both safety certification standards, they differ in their scope of application, certification standards, and certification processes. UL9540A certification is more focused on the safety of battery energy storage systems, with stricter requirements for batteries and battery management systems, making it more challenging for companies to achieve.
Battery and energy storage system safety has always been a major concern. In this regard, UL's series of certifications, as safety certification standards for battery and energy storage system products, have very strict requirements and testing procedures aimed at ensuring product stability under extreme conditions. Enterprises that have obtained UL9540A certification often already have UL9540 and UL1973 certifications, which have the following advantages:
UL9540A certification requires that products will not burn or explode under extreme conditions, effectively protecting the safety of people, property, and the environment. This is very important because the chemicals in batteries and energy storage systems are often dangerous, and accidents can have serious consequences. Specifically, UL9540A certification requires products to undergo a series of fire, impact, vibration, and other tests to verify their fire resistance and shock resistance.
Batteries generate heat during charging and discharging, and if they cannot dissipate heat effectively, they are prone to thermal runaway, resulting in battery fires or explosions. UL9540A certification requires products to undergo a series of tests under high-temperature environments to verify their heat dissipation performance. These tests include static and dynamic heat dissipation tests, which simulate the heat dissipation of batteries in different usage scenarios. Only products with good heat dissipation performance can effectively avoid the risk of battery thermal runaway. In addition, the certification also considers the interaction between the product and the environment, such as requiring products to be tested under harsh weather conditions to ensure normal operation in various environments.
UL9540A certification also requires products to have good reliability and durability, can operate stably for a long time, and require regular maintenance and testing, such as periodic checks of battery status and maintenance of charging and discharging control circuits. These requirements can effectively reduce the cost of product maintenance, avoiding the problem of frequent after-sales repairs that customers face after purchasing products, and greatly improving product reliability and durability.
UL9540A certification is an internationally recognized certification standard. To some extent, products that meet UL9540A certification often reflect the strength of the enterprise. Obtaining this certification can prove that the product has excellent safety and reliability, enhancing its market competitiveness. Especially in the field of batteries and energy storage systems, safety is a major concern for users, making the importance of UL9540A certification even more prominent.
As an authoritative standard in the field of battery and energy storage system products, the results of UL9540A certification have been widely accepted. Beyond the United States, UL9540A certification has obtained CE certification in the European Union, in compliance with EU regulations. In Asian markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea, this certification standard also has a high degree of recognition. As a global energy storage system solution provider, Lithium Valley has obtained a series of product certifications, such as UL1973, UL9540, and UL9540A. We are committed to providing customers with high-quality and reliable products and services.
In addition, in UL9540A certification, attention is also paid to the sustainable development of products. The certification requires that products should consider issues such as environmental impact, energy efficiency, and recycling, which also drives Lithium Valley toward a more sustainable direction. With the growing awareness of environmental protection among consumers, companies that prioritize sustainability are more likely to gain a competitive edge.
Lithium Valley is a professional energy storage solution provider offering the most advanced technologies and highest quality products. What sets us apart from other companies is that we have UL certification, which means our products undergo rigorous testing and verification to ensure they meet industry standards and have the highest level of safety.
Our energy storage solutions feature leading lithium-ion battery technology to help you achieve efficient energy storage and management. Whether you're using them at home or in commercial settings, our energy storage solutions offer reliable and flexible energy support.
Our team is made up of passionate and professional engineers committed to developing the best products and providing exceptional service to our customers. We believe at Lithium Valley, we can provide you with an energy storage solution that meets your satisfaction.
If you're looking for high-quality energy storage solutions, please contact us and we will provide you with the best products and services. Thank you!
