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The extensive process guide and the below documents were developed by Sustainable CUNY's Smart DG Hub in collaboration with NYC agencies, Con Edison and other stakeholders.

2025 NYC Permitting and Interconnection Process Guide for Outdoor Energy Storage Systems

This document provides project developers, building owners, and other ESS project stakeholders with a comprehensive overview and detailed breakdown of the approval processes and requirements for outdoor lithium-ion based ESS in NYC.

 

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NYC Energy Storage Systems Zoning Guide 

2/2026 This high-level navigational guide to understanding zoning provisions applicable to ESS provides a comprehensive overview of the recent ESS-related zoning changes in NYC and summarizes zoning requirements applicable to both Accessory & Non-Accessory ESS.

ESS Planning Guide: Site Considerations 

2/2026 Intended for stakeholders exploring the potential for an ESS installation at their site, helping users understand key physical site characteristics and how these may impact project feasibility and/or design.

ESS Planning Guide: Project Considerations 

2/2026 Intended to help users understand key factors and decision-making criteria involved in ESS project scoping, planning, and project design.

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Quick Guide: FDNY Certificate of Approval for Energy Storage Systems Products

This guide is aimed at helping energy storage industry stakeholders, particularly within the manufacturing, product supplier or integrator ecosystems, understand and navigate the steps for submitting an FDNY Certificate of Approval application for ESS products. 

New York City Conceptual Design Meeting Prep Checklist 

The checklist is intended as an aide to help project developers who are in the early stages of project exploration and development, prior to initial meetings with AHJs.

New York City Emergency Management Plan Guidance 

This document will assist developers by providing an outline and template for the required emergency management plan which is an important component of the application package for FDNY approval.

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UL 9540A Data Utilization Guide for NYC: Flow Charts

This UL 9540A Data Utilization Guide for NYC: Flow Charts document is intended as a supplement to the Outdoor Permitting Guide. It provides high-level guidance on the utilization of data obtained from UL 9540A, Test Method for Evaluating Thermal Runaway Fire Propagation in Battery Energy Storage Systems, which is a key component of all lithium-ion based energy storage permitting applications under consideration by NYC AHJs.

New York City Solar and Storage Installer Workshops

Sustainable CUNY's Smart DG Ombudsman partner with NYS and NYC agencies and authorities, utilities, and subject matter experts to conduct workshops for solar and storage installers and the stakeholder community. A complete recording of the 2021 workshop, as well as individual presentations, can be found at the above link.