Wattality
Wattality
C&I Energy Storage

Controls Engineering for Behind-the-Meter Storage.

Commercial and industrial BESS projects need more than oversized batteries. We engineer the BMS, rack control, and energy management layer that turns 50 kW–5 MW installations into demand-charge-killing, self-consumption-maximizing assets with reliable backup and tariff-aware dispatch.

50 kW–5 MW
Power Range
1–4 h
Duration
30–50%
Demand Charge Reduction
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Why C&I Storage Projects Underdeliver

📉

Missed Peak Shaving Targets

Generic controllers react to thresholds, not predictions. Without load-forecasting logic in the BMS dispatch layer, the system clips peaks too late or wastes stored energy on non-peak intervals — demand charges stay high.

☀️

Poor Solar Self-Consumption

Rooftop PV paired with storage should minimize grid export and maximize on-site use. Off-the-shelf inverter-storage combos lack granular BMS-level coordination, leaving 20-40% of potential savings on the table.

🔌

Unreliable Backup Transitions

When grid power drops, C&I facilities need sub-second transfer to battery backup for critical loads. Poorly designed contactor sequencing and islanding logic leads to momentary outages that disrupt production lines and IT infrastructure.

🏢

Building System Integration Gaps

BESS must coordinate with existing building management systems, HVAC, EV chargers, and on-site generation. Without protocol-level integration via BACnet or Modbus, the storage system operates in isolation and ROI degrades.

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Indoor Safety Compliance

C&I systems often deploy indoors or adjacent to occupied spaces. Meeting NFPA 855 separation distances, UL 9540A fire propagation requirements, and local AHJ codes demands safety-first BMS and enclosure design.

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Unfavorable Payback Periods

Without time-of-use arbitrage, demand charge stacking, and incentive program qualification built into the dispatch logic, C&I storage payback stretches beyond 7 years — killing project economics and stakeholder buy-in.

Wattality's Engineering Approach

We deliver the complete controls and intelligence stack for behind-the-meter C&I storage. From cell-level safety to tariff-optimized dispatch, every layer is designed for the specific demands of commercial and industrial facilities: safety in occupied spaces, integration with building systems, and sub-3-year payback targets.

Battery Management System Development

Multi-chemistry BMS with cell-level balancing, adaptive charge profiles, and predictive SoH estimation. Designed for C&I duty cycles including daily peak shaving, partial-cycle solar buffering, and standby-to-backup transitions.

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Rack Control Box Engineering

Compact rack controllers with contactor sequencing, pre-charge logic, ground-fault detection, and thermal management sized for indoor and outdoor C&I enclosures. UL 9540A and NFPA 855 compliance built in from schematic phase.

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Energy Intelligence Platform

On-premise or cloud-connected EMS for tariff-aware dispatch, load forecasting, solar-storage coordination, and demand charge optimization. Provides the data layer facility managers and finance teams need to verify ROI.

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Standards & Certifications We Design To

IEC 62619

Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries in industrial applications. Covers cell-level abuse testing and module-level safety validation for C&I-grade BESS.

UL 9540

Standard for energy storage systems and equipment. Covers system-level safety for electrochemical, mechanical, and thermal aspects of C&I battery installations.

NFPA 855

Installation standard for stationary energy storage systems. Defines separation distances, ventilation, fire suppression, and deflagration venting — critical for indoor and rooftop C&I deployments.

IEEE 1547

Interconnection standard for distributed energy resources. Defines voltage regulation, frequency response, and anti-islanding requirements for behind-the-meter systems connecting to the utility grid.

NEC Article 706

National Electrical Code requirements for energy storage systems. Covers wiring methods, disconnects, grounding, and labeling for C&I battery installations in commercial occupancies.

Typical System Specifications

Power Rating50 kW – 5 MW
Energy Capacity100 kWh – 20 MWh
Duration1 – 4 hours
Round-Trip Efficiency> 87%
Grid Transfer Time< 20 ms (backup mode)
Operating Temperature-10 C to +50 C
Communication ProtocolsModbus TCP, BACnet, CAN, OCPP
Design Life15 years / 6,000+ cycles

Trusted by Global Energy Leaders

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Frequently Asked Questions

What size C&I facility benefits from behind-the-meter storage?
Facilities with peak demand above 100 kW and significant demand charges on their utility tariff are strong candidates. This includes manufacturing plants, warehouses, data centers, retail complexes, and commercial office buildings. The higher the demand charge component relative to energy charges, the faster the payback on a properly dispatched BESS.
How does your BMS handle peak shaving versus backup power priorities?
Our dispatch logic maintains a configurable SOC reserve for backup power while using the remaining capacity for peak shaving and arbitrage. The reserve level adjusts dynamically based on weather forecasts, grid reliability history, and facility-defined critical load profiles. During grid events, the system transitions to islanded mode within 20 ms.
Can the system integrate with our existing rooftop solar installation?
Yes. Our EMS coordinates with solar inverters via Modbus or SunSpec to maximize self-consumption. The dispatch algorithm forecasts PV generation and facility load, then schedules charge/discharge cycles to minimize grid export and grid import during high-tariff periods. This works with both AC-coupled and DC-coupled solar-storage configurations.
How do you ensure safety for indoor C&I installations?
Safety starts at the BMS level with cell-level thermal monitoring, off-gas detection inputs, and multi-stage fault handling. The rack controller manages contactor isolation and thermal cutoff. We design to UL 9540A fire propagation test requirements and NFPA 855 installation codes from the schematic phase, not as an afterthought.
What is the typical project timeline for a C&I BESS control system?
A full BMS + rack controller + EMS engagement for a 500 kW / 2 MWh system typically spans 4-6 months from kick-off to commissioning. This includes requirements specification, detailed design, firmware development, hardware prototyping, and on-site integration with the existing building management system and utility interconnection.

Ready to Engineer Your C&I Storage System?

Share your facility load profile, tariff structure, and project goals. We'll scope the controls architecture and deliver a technical proposal within two weeks.