Laying the Groundwork for Safe, Reliable Energy Storage in Texas
Texas’ energy landscape is evolving rapidly. With ERCOT forecasting record electricity demand and renewables expanding across the state, EPCs, installers, and project developers are navigating new challenges in building safe, reliable, and resilient energy storage projects.
In our Ask the Experts series, we connect with innovators from across the clean energy sector to shed light on the technical, strategic, and operational considerations shaping the future of power in the Lone Star State.
This week, we sat down with Alison Brown, PE, Founder and Engineer, and Brooklyn Issac, PE, Electrical Engineer, both of Flux Energy Systems, to discuss the importance of ensuring safe and reliable ground grid design as large-scale battery projects surge across Texas.
Grounding design isn’t just a technical requirement—it’s the foundation for operational safety, long-term system performance, and project success. In this conversation, we explore how industry standards, site-specific soil conditions, and precise testing protocols directly influence the reliability, safety, and efficiency of Texas’ expanding battery energy storage fleet.
Meet the Experts
Alison Brown, PE, Founder and Engineer, Flux Energy Systems
Alison Brown has 20 years of experience in renewable energy. She has worked with solar, battery, electric vehicle, fuel cell, and smart grid technologies on projects ranging from remote, off-grid cabins to industrial microgrids and utility. In 2016, Alison founded Flux Energy Systems to provide engineering solutions for alternative energy projects. Alison holds a B.A. in Physics from Middlebury College and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Brooklyn Isaac, PE, Electrical Engineer, Flux Energy Systems
Brooklyn Isaac has six years of power system analysis experience in various industries, from healthcare facilities to oil and gas and renewable energy. Brooklyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University and is a Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.
You Have Questions, They Have Answers
Q: With the rapid pace of development in ERCOT, do you think existing grounding standards (like IEEE 80-2013) are sufficient for large-scale Texas installations, or do you see a need for new approaches?
The recommendations included in IEEE 80-2013, the “Guide for Grounding of AC substations” as well as IEEE-81-2012 the “Guide for Measuring Earth resistivity. . .” can be applied to BESS projects. However, BESS fields are larger, and fault currents are frequently higher than substations, so many of the guidelines and test protocols have limited applicability to the site design. Given that industry grounding software, like CDEGS (Current Distribution, Electromagnetic Interference, Grounding, and Soil Structure) relies on IEEE 80-2013 methodologies in its calculations, Flux believes the industry should invest in updated software with broader input parameters to best capture the projects’ scale, fault characteristics, and site-specific soil conditions.
Q: With Texas projects often facing diverse site conditions, which site-specific factors in Texas have the biggest impact on ground grid design?
In Texas, projects can be deployed far from local quarries, which means bringing in surface aggregate to insulate workers from faults can be a logistical challenge. Early coordination with quarries to test the resistivity of imported aggregate can result in a less complex and lower cost ground grid while also easing stress during construction.
Furthermore, hot, dry, and sandy conditions found in some regions of Texas drive soil resistivity upward, which in turn affects the distribution of fault current through the ground grid. The potentially high soil resistivity of a Texas site can cause step and touch potentials to increase and elevate safety risks at the site that would not be present in other climates. Each site must be studied carefully with relevant test data to ensure safe operation.
Q: During construction and testing of BESS in Texas, what are the most common errors or oversights you’ve encountered in ground grid design or testing and how can project teams avoid them?
Successful completion of ground grid construction requires hiring a qualified test contractor to complete pre-construction Wenner testing (to measure soil sensitivity) and post-construction (pre-tie in) fall-of-potential testing to verify the grid’s safety and effectiveness.
On many projects, Flux has received erroneous test reports, and upon further inspection identified errors in the basic test protocol. This results in both delays and rework in the project as specialized test engineers are re-deployed to the project sites.
Q: Looking ahead, how can effective ground grid design and testing practices support the long-term reliability of Texas’ growing BESS fleet, especially as storage becomes more critical to balancing the grid?
Safety is paramount in any workplace, and, for a burgeoning industry, disproportionally high safety incidents can derail the growth of an industry. As engineers, our first obligation is to the safety of the public. Proper engineering and testing allow engineers to design a robust and sound BESS ground grid that can support clean electricity generation, allow our industry to grow, and create a more sustainable Texas.
Looking for More on Grid Design, Battery Energy Storage, and Safety Best Practices?
Check out these related sessions in Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA) Texas’ upcoming conference program:
- Solar PV Installation: Best Practices & Code Compliance: In this workshop, gain a deeper understanding of how National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements apply to real-world installations.
- Storage Safety in Texas: Mitigating Risk as Deployment Grows: Learn how advanced safety technologies, AI tools, and evolving standards can help detect and prevent incidents before they happen.
- Advancing Battery Tech for Safer, Sustainable, and Scalable Storage Solutions: Discover how domestic manufacturing breakthroughs and new battery chemistries are powering clean energy expansion and a stronger, more reliable grid.
- Pushing the Limits of Solar: Innovations in Design, Density and Integration: Gain practical insights on implementing next-generation solutions in today’s solar projects that boost output, reduce grid strain, and maximize limited space.
These sessions will take place in person at IESNA Texas on November 18–19 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. To secure your spot, register today!