NB-BESS Open Standard v1.0

1 · Scope and purpose

This document defines the minimum criteria a stationary energy storage system must satisfy to be designated an NB-BESS (No-Break Battery Energy Storage System). Its purpose is to protect the meaning of the category: a buyer specifying "NB-BESS" must be able to rely on every criterion below being met, in the same way "double-conversion UPS" or "Tier IV data center" carry reliable meaning.

This standard addresses system architecture and functional performance. It does not replace safety, electrical, or interconnection codes, which remain governed by the applicable regulations of each jurisdiction (see N-7).

1.1 Terms

Critical power path — the electrical path through which the protected load is served during normal operation. Transfer time — any interval during which the load is not served by the system's conversion stage. Micro-interruption — loss or collapse of supply voltage lasting from milliseconds up to a few seconds. Protection reserve — the state of charge permanently reserved for ride-through and backup, unavailable to economic dispatch.

2 · Normative criteria

A system shall meet all of criteria N-1 through N-7 to be designated an NB-BESS. "Shall" denotes a mandatory requirement.

N-1 Zero-millisecond continuity

The protected load shall be served through the system's power conversion stage at all times during normal operation. No transfer switch, synchronization step, or direct grid-to-load path shall exist in the critical power path. The transfer time upon any upstream disturbance shall be 0 ms, by architecture rather than by switching speed.

Verification: single-line diagram review confirming no grid-direct path; disturbance injection or recorded grid-event logs showing zero deviation at the load bus.

N-2 Continuous power conditioning

The system shall isolate the load from upstream voltage sags, swells, transients, harmonic distortion, frequency deviations, and micro-interruptions continuously (24/7), not only upon detection of a declared outage.

Verification: output power-quality measurement at the load bus during representative upstream disturbances; conformance of output to the load's tolerance envelope (e.g. SEMI F47 / ITIC as applicable).

N-3 Industrial scale

The system shall be engineered, rated, and serviceable for complete production lines or full facilities, with a scalable architecture demonstrated at or engineered for MW-class continuous loads.

Verification: nameplate ratings, thermal design documentation, and at least one reference installation or type test at line scale or above.

N-4 Bridging and backup

The system shall both (a) ride through short-duration events with zero interruption to the load, and (b) sustain the load through prolonged outages from stored energy for its rated autonomy. The architecture shall admit extension with on-site generation for long-duration outages without introducing a transfer event at the load.

Verification: rated autonomy test at nominal load; documented generator-integration scheme where offered.

N-5 Economic operation

The system shall be capable of performing energy optimization functions — at minimum peak shaving or tariff-driven charge management — while permanently maintaining the protection reserve. Economic dispatch shall never reduce stored energy below the protection reserve.

Verification: energy-management system documentation showing reserve enforcement; operational logs demonstrating simultaneous optimization and protection.

N-6 Measurable availability

The system shall continuously log upstream grid events and load-bus performance with timestamped telemetry sufficient to demonstrate, after any disturbance, whether the load was affected. Event records shall be retained and available to the system owner.

Verification: telemetry specification review; sample event reports from operating systems.

N-7 Safety and regulatory compliance

The installation shall conform to the energy-storage safety, fire, electrical, and grid-interconnection requirements applicable in its jurisdiction, aligned with recognized frameworks such as the UL 9540 / UL 9540A, IEC 62933, and NFPA 855 families and the local electrical code.

Verification: applicable certificates, test reports, or engineering conformity assessments for the jurisdiction of installation.

3 · Conformance and use of the designation

STEP 1

Self-assessment

The manufacturer documents conformance with N-1 … N-7, including the verification evidence listed under each criterion.

STEP 2

Declaration

The manufacturer submits its declaration of conformity to the initiative for review and publication in the public registry of conformant systems.

STEP 3

Designation

Upon acceptance, the manufacturer may designate the assessed system family as NB-BESS conformant, with the standard version cited (e.g. "NB-BESS v1.0").

Conformant manufacturers to date: PulseVolt (founding manufacturer, systems in continuous MW-class industrial service). To submit a declaration of conformity, contact the initiative.

4 · Governance and versioning

The NB-BESS Open Standard initiative was founded in 2026 by PulseVolt, creator of the NB-BESS™ technology and category. The standard text is published openly and may be implemented by any manufacturer at no cost. PulseVolt administers the standard and the registry during the initiative's founding phase; once three or more independent manufacturers hold accepted declarations of conformity, maintenance passes to a technical committee with one seat per conformant manufacturer.

Revisions follow semantic versioning. Substantive changes to normative criteria increment the major version and are announced with a transition period. The current version is 1.0 (2026-08).

Build to the standard

Manufacturers, integrators, and specifiers are invited to use these criteria in designs, RFQs, and procurement documents. If your system meets them — say so, and join the registry.

Contact the initiative →