Understanding BESS: Battery Energy Storage Systems for Data Centers

Data center owners aspire to maintain resiliency, mitigate energy costs, be sustainable, monetize underutilized assets, and reduce reliance on diesel generators. This creates valid use cases for the adoption of battery energy storage systems (BESS). In this paper we define what a BESS is, describe trends driving adoption, and explain its components, functions, use cases, and architecture considerations. We also provide guidance on what conditions most favor adopting Li-ion BESS for data center use.