Q0019
The owner should require every supplier to respond to the same use case, data set, operating profile and performance schedule. Questions should cover complete scope, guaranteed usable performance, degradation, safety, controls, warranty, project delivery, financial strength and long-term service—not merely container price and nameplate capacity.
BESS quotations are often difficult to compare because suppliers use different boundaries, efficiencies, degradation assumptions and warranty conditions. A low-priced proposal may exclude transformers, fire systems, augmentation, grid studies or the performance required at the end of the contract.
The owner should provide:
Without this information, suppliers are pricing different projects.
1. What equipment and work are included? 2. What is expressly excluded? 3. Is pricing quoted at battery, DC, inverter output or grid-delivery point? 4. Are transformers, switchgear, protection and metering included? 5. Who undertakes civil works and connection studies? 6. Who supplies fire detection, suppression and emergency systems? 7. Who integrates the BESS with solar, facility controls or the grid? 8. What auxiliary loads are included in performance calculations?
1. What are guaranteed beginning- and end-of-life usable MW and MWh? 2. At which connection point are they measured? 3. What is the guaranteed AC-to-AC round-trip efficiency? 4. How does efficiency change at partial load? 5. What state-of-charge range is allowed? 6. What continuous and overload power can the system provide? 7. What response time and ramp rate are guaranteed? 8. What site-temperature derating applies? 9. What availability is guaranteed? 10. What liquidated damages apply if performance is missed?
1. What degradation model supports the proposal? 2. What temperature and dispatch assumptions were used? 3. What throughput or cycle limit applies? 4. Is augmentation included? 5. When and how much augmentation is expected? 6. Who bears future module-cost and compatibility risk? 7. What capacity is guaranteed after each operating year? 8. Does the warranty protect energy capacity, power capability or both?
1. Which Malaysian guidelines and international standards does the design meet? 2. What cell, module and system safety testing has been completed? 3. How are thermal events detected, isolated and prevented from propagating? 4. What separation distances and emergency access are required? 5. What gas detection, ventilation and fire-control systems are provided? 6. What emergency-response plan and responder training are included? 7. What previous incidents have affected the proposed product? 8. What design changes resulted from those incidents?
Malaysia’s Energy Commission published BESS Safety Guidelines in May 2026. Supplier proposals should be checked against those requirements and all applicable local approvals. Energy Commission BESS Safety Guidelines
Sandia’s procurement guidance recommends requesting degradation curves, maintenance requirements, replacement costs, AC-to-AC efficiency, warranty terms, spare-parts pricing and factory and commissioning plans. Sandia procurement guidance
Until suppliers respond and due diligence is completed:
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