Warranties for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) provide mechanisms for buyers and investors to mitigate the technical and operational risks of battery projects, by transferring the risk of defects or performance issues to the manufacturer or the battery vendor.
Standard warranties for lithium-ion batteries cover both performance and defects for two years. Extended warranties can be purchased, but a warranty beyond 10 years does not make much sense because so much of the battery would need to be replaced after year 10. Insurance can also be purchased for longer coverage.
LG Chem offers an energy throughput warranty, meaning it warrants that the battery will deliver a certain amount of energy over a 10-year life. The number of times a day the battery is cycled affects the battery's lifespan, making energy throughput a crucial factor.
MR. MAGUIRE: A 10-year warranty does not have a design target of 10 years because half of the batteries would need to be returned under warranty. The design target would have to be at least 14 or 15 years.