New national standard for solar container lithium batteries

The first edition of UL 1487, the Standard for Battery Containment Enclosures, was published on February 10, 2025, by UL Standards & Engagement as a binational standard for the United States and Canada. NFPA is keeping pace with the surge in energy storage and solar technology by undertaking initiatives including training, standards development, and research so that various stakeholders can safely embrace renewable energy sources and respond if potential new hazards arise. An overview of the relevant codes and standards governing the safe deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems in the United States. As battery use increases globally, so does the demand for critical materials needed to manufacture single-use and rechargeable batteries. Establishing a domestic supply chain for lithium-based batteries requires a national commitment to both solving breakthrough scientific challenges for new materials and developing a manufacturing base that meets the demands of the growing electric vehicle (EV) and stationary grid storage markets.