BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE DEVELOPMENT
FROM SITE ASSESSMENT THROUGH INTERCONNECTION — PROJECT DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE AT EVERY PHASE
Battery energy storage has moved from pilot projects and regulatory mandates to a central resource in capacity markets, transmission planning, and co-located generation strategies. FERC Orders 841 and 845 opened organized wholesale markets to storage participation on equitable terms. PJM’s Surplus Interconnection Service expansion and co-location of storage with solar, wind, and natural gas have all created opportunities. For utilities, developers, and asset owners pursuing battery energy storage projects in this environment, the development process is more technically demanding and more competitively compressed than it has ever been.
Tangibl Group provides utility-scale battery energy storage development services for asset owners and investors across the full development lifecycle — from RFI and RFP management and technology assessment through siting and permitting support and interconnection. Tangibl has provided technical guidance and project support for utility-scale BESS projects in the western and northeastern U.S. and is actively engaged in BESS development as part of our Project Development services offering.
RFI AND RFP DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT
Selecting a turnkey provider for a utility-scale battery energy storage system is a procurement exercise with significant long-term consequences. Technology choices made at RFP stage — cell chemistry, integrator, warranty structure, performance guarantee terms — determine revenue reliability, O&M cost profiles, and degradation characteristics across a 15 to 20 year asset life. A process that is technically incomplete or commercially underspecified transfers risk to the owner in ways that surface well after the procurement decision is final.
As an Owner’s Engineer, Tangibl manages the full BESS procurement process from specification development through vendor selection and contract award, including assembly of competitive RFI and RFP bid packages, power and energy configuration specification, performance guarantee requirements, and weighted evaluation of proposals against technical, commercial, and counterparty criteria.
Our RFI and RFP services include:
- Power and energy configuration specification — MW/MWh sizing, duration, round-trip efficiency, and auxiliary load requirements
- Cell chemistry evaluation criteria and system integrator prequalification
- RFP technical specifications covering AC and DC system design, controls, communications, fire suppression, and civil requirements
- Performance guarantee and degradation curve requirements, including testing protocols and acceptance criteria
- Bid evaluation with weighted scoring across technical, commercial, financial, and safety criteria
- Contract negotiation support and award recommendation
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
Battery energy storage technology is not a commodity. Lithium iron phosphate, nickel manganese cobalt, sodium-ion, and emerging long-duration chemistries each carry different performance profiles, safety characteristics, supply chain dependencies, and financing track records. Non-lithium chemistries have yet to achieve the project finance bankability track record required by most institutional lenders — a practical constraint that affects technology selection regardless of technical merit.
Tangibl as Owner’s Engineer (or, as Independent Engineer for financing parties) provides independent technology assessment evaluating proposed systems against the specific performance requirements, market participation objectives, and site constraints of each project, grounded in engineering analysis of the full system rather than vendor materials.
Our technology assessment services include:
- Cell chemistry evaluation against project performance requirements, cycling profile, and degradation tolerance
- System integrator technical qualification review — engineering depth, supply chain relationships, commissioning track record, and warranty backstop
- Thermal management assessment for site climate conditions
- Controls and communications architecture review for market participation and grid services capability
- Fire suppression and safety system evaluation against NFPA 855 and applicable local fire codes
- Financing bankability assessment identifying technology and counterparty risk factors affecting project finance eligibility
SITING AND PERMITTING
NFPA 855 setback requirements, local fire code interpretations, environmental review thresholds, and community engagement requirements all affect BESS site feasibility and development timeline. A site that clears the interconnection economics screen can still fail on permitting grounds if these constraints are not engaged early. Tangibl provides siting support including preliminary site screening, NFPA 855 compliance assessment, environmental review scoping, and coordination with civil and permitting specialists as part of an integrated development program.
Our siting and permitting support services include:
- Preliminary site screening against interconnection feasibility, grid topology, land availability, and permitting risk
- NFPA 855 compliance assessment — energy capacity thresholds, setback requirements, and maximum facility size
- Local fire code review and authority having jurisdiction engagement strategy
- Environmental review scoping under applicable SEPA, NEPA, and state-level thresholds
- Zoning and land use analysis
- Permitting timeline development and critical path identification
INTERCONNECTION
Tangibl provides PJM interconnection support for battery energy storage projects across the full interconnection lifecycle, drawing on our team’s experience managing 30 simultaneous PJM interconnection requests and executing 15 Interconnection Agreements.
Our BESS interconnection services include:
- Pre-application network analysis to identify optimal interconnection points and estimate network upgrade cost exposure
- Surplus Interconnection Service eligibility assessment for storage at existing interconnection points
- Storage accreditation analysis under PJM’s UCAP and ICAP methodologies
- Interconnection application preparation and submission under the reformed PJM Cycle process
- Study report review and cost allocation assessment
- Interconnection agreement review and negotiation support
CASE STUDY
Battery Energy Storage Pilot Project — Northeastern U.S. Distribution Utility
Tangibl provided technical guidance and project support to a large distribution utility in the northeastern U.S. for a battery energy storage pilot project mandated by their state environmental regulator. Tangibl assisted with site selection, specification of power and energy configuration, and managed the RFI and RFP processes for selecting a turnkey provider of the battery energy storage system.
REQUEST INFORMATION
If you have a project that you believe is a good fit for our capabilities, please contact us. We can schedule an introductory conversation to better understand your needs and together determine how best to serve you.
BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE DEVELOPMENT — FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between a storage RFI and an RFP, and does Tangibl manage both?
An RFI gathers market information — which vendors can deliver, lead times, pricing ranges, and integrator track records. An RFP is the formal competitive procurement document specifying technical requirements, performance guarantees, warranty terms, and contract conditions. Tangibl manages both processes, including document development, response evaluation, and award recommendation.
Which battery chemistry should we specify?
It depends on the project’s duration requirement, cycling profile, site constraints, and financing plan. Lithium iron phosphate dominates the current utility-scale market because of its safety profile, mature supply chain, and established project finance track record. Other more environmentally-benign chemistries are available, as well; Tangibl’s technology assessment evaluates chemistry trade-offs against the specific requirements of each project rather than applying a generic recommendation.
How does Surplus Interconnection Service work for battery storage?
FERC’s February 2025 approval of expanded SIS rules extended eligibility explicitly to electric storage resources. A BESS project seeking SIS can use unused interconnection capacity at an existing point rather than submitting a new queue application, reducing both interconnection timeline and network upgrade cost exposure. Tangibl provides SIS eligibility analysis as part of its interconnection support practice.
Does Tangibl provide Owner's Engineer services for battery storage EPC contracts?
Yes. For clients requiring independent technical oversight during BESS EPC procurement and construction, Tangibl provides Owner’s Engineer services covering RFP development, proposal evaluation, construction oversight, witness testing, and commissioning acceptance. RFI and RFP management can be structured as a standalone engagement or as the first phase of a broader Owner’s Engineer program. Similar services for technical and project economics due diligence are available as part of Tangibl’s Independent Engineer services for financing parties.