sello-almacenamiento

At UNEF, we consider energy storage to be a key component for a sustainable energy transition. That’s why we propose the certification of the Seal of Excellence in Storage, aimed at ensuring best practices in storage facilities and promoting sustainable and safe development in our country.

Methodology

To develop this Seal of Excellence, we took as a starting point the success of UNEF’s Sustainability Seal, which has already been awarded to more than 57 projects representing over 4 GW. These criteria have been adapted to storage installations.

This seal is the result of months of work by the UNEF team and expert groups that include all relevant stakeholders in the value chain of these types of facilities, such as manufacturers, developers, landscape designers, and environmental consultancies, among others. The excellence criteria have been validated both with UNEF members through working groups and with environmental organizations and other independent stakeholders. Finally, agreements have been signed with two independent certification bodies: UL Solutions and SGS.

We support energy storage in all its forms. Therefore, this certificate is available for both hybrid systems and stand-alone installations, and it is fully compatible with the Sustainability Seal.

This Seal of Excellence incorporates the knowledge gained from the photovoltaic sector regarding social acceptance, and introduces an approach based on early engagement, transparency, and listening, with the goal of leaving the territory in a better state than we found it.

Requirements

The seal is based on the four existing blocks of criteria from the Sustainability Seal, plus an entirely new block to address industrial safety. The objective of the seal is to certify that the storage project has been developed in accordance with excellent standards in the following areas: socioeconomic impact, environmental impact, industrial safety, governance, and circular economy.

• Socioeconomic Impact
  • The socioeconomic impact criteria address one of the main concerns related to storage installations: landscape impact and heritage protection.
  • Criteria also include local economy, proximity, and local employment.
  • A dedicated budget must be allocated to actions that have a positive impact on the local community.
• Environmental Impact
  • This section focuses on another key aspect of storage facilities: noise reduction measures.
  • It also includes criteria related to site selection, facility design, biodiversity, evacuation lines, and civil works.
• Industrial Safety
  • This block outlines the industrial safety measures that a storage installation must incorporate in relation to fire prevention, spill containment, and air exhaust systems.
• Governance
  • This block emphasizes early engagement with society and institutions, with a strong focus on project communication and transparency.
• Circular Economy
  • At UNEF, we propose taking a proactive approach to what will become mandatory when the digital battery passport is introduced.
  • It will be evaluated whether the proposed installations have considered material recycling and waste management.
• Certification Bodies
  • Applus+ is one of the world’s leading companies in inspection, testing, and certification. Operating in more than 65 countries and with a team of over 25,000 professionals, it offers highly specialized technical services that ensure quality, safety, and environmental performance in key sectors. Its experience and reputation make it a trusted partner for rigorous evaluation processes like the Seal of Excellence in Sustainability.

Below, you will find the full version of the criteria that make up this Seal of Excellence.

PDF. Technical Specifications of the Seal
PDF. Storage Seal of Excellence Fees
Word Document. Application Form

Any company wishing to obtain the Seal of Excellence in Storage for a project under development or an operational facility must begin the process by sending an application to UNEF via email at almacenamiento@unef.es.

Any company in the sector may apply for this certification, whether or not it is a UNEF member.