Better Energy Storage and Safety Act

The Better Energy Storage and Safety Act amends the Energy Act of 2020 to modify energy storage technology programs and projects, focusing on expanding definitions, research objectives, testing, demonstration projects, and safety measures. It authorizes $30 million per year from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for safety-related activities.

Sec. 2, Modification of certain programs and projects with respect to energy storage technology: This section makes several changes to the Energy Act of 2020. It clarifies the definition of an energy storage system to include components or modules. It expands research objectives to include models, tools, and diagnostic data sets for safe installation and operation, as well as early detection and preventative maintenance for failure modes like thermal runaway and fire risks. It modifies testing and validation to require coordination with National Laboratories, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the United States Fire Administration, focusing on standardized testing under various conditions, including failure and stress testing to failure. It also updates periodic evaluations to include testing and evaluation and improve safety, and modifies the strategic plan to include a summary of innovative technologies that could improve performance, durability, or safety of grid-scale systems. It adds the United States Fire Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology as entities to leverage resources.

Sec. 2(c), Increasing number of energy storage demonstration projects: Extends the deadline for demonstration projects from September 30, 2023, to September 30, 2030, and increases the minimum number of projects from 3 to 5. It adds requirements for at least one project designed to further safety of certain technologies through stress testing to failure.

Sec. 2(d), Energy storage pilot grant program: Expands selection requirements for grants to include improving safety through component, module, and system level testing and evaluation, and using data to predict system failure. It adds new objectives to improve testing methodologies, data collection, diagnostic and AI capabilities, safety of installed systems, and testing safer chemistries.

Sec. 2(e), Expanding priorities of the electric vehicle battery second-life project: Inserts "advanced safety testing and evaluation methodologies or" into the priorities for this project.

Sec. 2(f), Chemistries and stress testing in long-duration demonstration initiative and joint program: Adds "and chemistries" to the types of technologies considered. It adds a new objective to develop safety features that prevent or mitigate failure of long-duration technologies, and inserts "for stress testing integrated energy storage systems to failure" into the joint program.

Sec. 2(g), Authorization of appropriations: Authorizes $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for programs, initiatives, and activities relating to the safety of energy storage systems and technologies under subsections (b) through (d), to remain available until expended.