Effective Noise Control for Battery Energy Storage Sites (BESS): Sound Barrier Walls & Noise Reduction Solutions

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are becoming a vital component of energy management helping to promote grid reliability and optimize energy use. Their integration into wind and solar energy farms is expanding rapidly, enabling industries to maintain operations even when grid power fluctuates.

As BESS sites store energy from renewable sources like solar and wind, they play a crucial role in providing power during grid downtimes. However, with increased adoption, new challenges arise, one of the most pressing being excessive noise pollution at these sites.

Below, we’ll cover effective strategies for mitigating this issue. Learn how a Battery Energy Storage Site (BESS) sound wall can be effectively deployed at your facility.

Understanding Noise Challenges at Battery Energy Storage Sites

Noise pollution at BESS facilities stems from the various systems that keep the site running optimally. Noise sources include cooling systems, inverters, transformers, and other operational components. These are the areas that require BESS noise control.

What Causes Noise at BESS Facilities?

As mentioned, the noise from BESS facilities comes from several essential infrastructures, which include the following:

• Cooling and Ventilation Systems: Fans and cooling units generate continuous noise to prevent equipment from overheating.
• Inverters and Transformers: These components convert energy and regulate electrical currents, producing low-frequency hums and vibrations.
• Battery Management Systems (BMS): These operational controls add another layer of background noise to these sites.

Why Is Noise Control Crucial?

Installing noise control solutions is critical for BESS sites. Failure to have them in place may even prevent any approval from regulators for having these facilities built in the first place. Noise control solutions are essential given the following reasons:

• Compliance with Environmental Regulations: Regulatory bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local authorities enforce strict noise pollution limits to minimize community disruption, under the Noise Control Act of 1972.
• Impact on Nearby Communities and Wildlife: Excessive noise can affect residents’ quality of life and disrupt natural ecosystems.
• Worker Health and Safety: Prolonged exposure to high noise levels may result in hearing loss, stress, and decreased worker productivity.

Regulatory & Environmental Considerations for BESS Noise Control

Regulatory laws ensure that industrial operations that utilize BESS systems meet noise control standards. These regulations protect employees working in the facility and the surrounding communities. They provide laws designed to mitigate noise pollution and ensure compliance with environmental guidelines.

1. Noise Pollution Limits and Compliance Standards

Government agencies and industry standards outline acceptable noise levels for industrial sites. Here are the limits set by each department:

• OSHA Standards: Focus on workplace noise exposure, ensuring safe levels to prevent hearing damage for employees working on or near BESS facilities. They have set the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise as 90 decibels A-weighted (dBA) over an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). 
• EPA Guidelines: Establish environmental noise limits to minimize disruptions to surrounding ecosystems and communities, particularly in noise-sensitive zones. Their guidelines identify an acceptable 24-hour exposure to noise levels of up to 70 decibels or 45 decibels indoors and 55 decibels outdoors.
• Local Zoning Laws: The primary responsibility for regulating industrial noise rests with the local and state governments. They define permissible noise levels based on land use, requiring BESS projects to adhere to stricter limits in residential or mixed-use areas.

2. Permitting Challenges

Many municipalities require noise mitigation plans during the permitting process for BESS projects. Failure to meet these requirements can delay or derail approvals.

3. Community Impact

In addition to permitting requirements and noise mitigation, companies that use BESS systems must engage with local communities to address noise concerns. This demonstrates their commitment to minimizing disruption during project implementation.

Best Noise Control Solutions for Energy Storage Sites

A properly engineered and designed Battery Energy Storage Site (BESS) sound wall provides effective barriers to reduce noise transmission, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and minimizing the impact of operational noise on surrounding communities.

Here are some of the proven solutions you can deploy on your site:

• Sound Barrier Walls for BESS Facilities

A battery energy storage site noise barrier wall is a proven solution for controlling noise pollution in industrial settings. We provide absorptive sound barrier walls that effectively reduce noise by absorbing sound waves rather than reflecting them, providing significant noise reduction at the source. These solutions are customizable to your site’s specific needs.

• Industrial-Scale Battery Storage Enclosures

Custom-built enclosures combined with battery energy storage site sound attenuation improve operational efficiency. Here are some of the features to note:

• Acoustic insulation to dampen internal noise.
• Ventilation systems to maintain optimal equipment performance.
• Industrial-scale battery storage enclosures are constructed using the best materials, including composite panels with acoustic dampening layers or high-density foam insulation for low-frequency noise control.

• Sound Attenuation Technologies

Acoustic insulation materials are used in transformer enclosures to minimize hum and vibrations. We provide solutions for HVAC and cooling system noise control, employing silencers and acoustic louvers to reduce fan and airflow noise.

• Strategic Site Design for Noise Reduction

Specialists from Sound Fighter Systems provide optimal placement to position noisy BESS components away from sensitive areas like residential zones. We also consider natural sound barriers like trees, berms, and other landscaping to complement engineered solutions. These solutions provide optimal battery energy storage site noise reduction.

Benefits of Implementing Noise Control Solutions

Here are the benefits of installing sound barrier walls and other noise control solutions for BESS facilities:

• Regulatory Compliance: By meeting noise pollution standards, they help you avoid fines, delays, and legal complications.
• Improved Community Relations: Better noise control establishes goodwill with neighbors and communities.
• Safer Work Environment: Lower noise levels protect workers from health risks and boost productivity.
• Enhanced Equipment Longevity: Controlling noise reduces mechanical stress, extending the lifespan of expensive components.

Choosing the Right Sound Barrier Wall for a BESS Facility

When selecting a sound barrier wall for a BESS facility, consider the following factors:

• Noise Source Intensity: Determine the decibel levels and frequencies your equipment emits.
• Site Layout: Account for space limitations and proximity to noise-sensitive areas.
• Regulatory Requirements: Ensure compliance with local and federal noise control standards.

Effective Noise Control Solutions for BESS Sites

Implementing noise mitigation solutions improves compliance with regulations and allows facilities to operate efficiently and sustainably. For expertly engineered noise control solutions, including absorptive sound barrier walls, contact Sound Walls today. Let us help you create a quieter, more compliant BESS facility.