In the context of the increasing demand for energy storage and the wave of transition to renewable energy, ESS (Energy Storage System) solutions have become an important "link" of the electricity ecosystem. However, not all ESS are the same: BESS Container - a battery storage system integrated in a container - is emerging as a flexible, fast-to-deploy and easy-to-standard solution.
1. ESS and BESS Container: Definition and basic structure
ESS (Energy Storage System):
Built permanently on site, usually in a separate technical room or building.
Integrates battery components, inverter, temperature management system and fire protection but with little standardization in size.
Often suitable for large, fixed projects (e.g. utility-scale wind farms or solar plants)
BESS (Battery Energy Storage System):
Battery system and auxiliary equipment are packed in standard 20-40 feet containers, easy to transport and install.
Available battery modules, PCS, HVAC, fire protection system
Allows quick upgrade or replacement of modules.
(Nguon: IEA – Global Energy Storage 2023)
2. Global BESS & ESS Containerization Trend
According to the BloombergNEF (Energy Storage Market Outlook 2024), the global energy storage market is expected to reach 1.194 GW/3.043 GWh by 2030 (~15 times higher than 2022), of which containerization is a mainstream trend that helps reduce costs and speed up deployment.
Reasons for containerization's strong growth:
- Standardize production, reduce unit costs
- Shorten design and construction time (no need to build a separate technical room).
- Easy to open or move.
- Support easy international shipping by sea with CSC (Container Safety Convention) certification.
3. Compare lifecycle costs and deployment speed
| Criteria | Traditional ESS | BESS Container |
| CAPEX costs | Higher due to having to build separate warehouses and systems | Lower due to standardized design, mass production |
| OPEX costs | High maintenance and operation costs due to distributed systems | Reduce maintenance costs through modularization |
| Deployment speed | 6–12 months (depending on scale) | 3–6 months (quick installation) |
Illustration: According to Wood Mackenzie report (2023), containerized BESS projects can reduce deployment time by 20–30% compared with traditional ESS of the same capacity.
4. Logistics & Operations Requirements
Traditional ESS: Need to prepare foundation, technical room; difficult to move; require specialized operation team.
BESS Container:
- Easy to transport by standard container.
- Suitable for remote locations, areas with limited infrastructure.
- “Plug & play” module maintenance.
5. International Standards & Certifications
| Standard | Meaning | Apply for |
| CSC (Container Safety Convention) | Ensure containers meet international shipping standards, safe stacking, and load bearing capacity | BESS Container |
| UL 9540 / UL 9540A | Energy storage system safety assessment, Thermal Runaway test | ESS & BESS |
| IEC 62933 | International standard for electrical energy storage systems | ESS & BESS |
| ISO 9001, ISO 3834-3, EN 1090 | Quality management, welding standards and steel structures | Manufacturer |
Source: UL Solutions; IEC International Standards; Bureau Veritas
6. BESS Container in Vietnam
Vietnam is boosting wind power, solar power and the need for energy storage is growing rapidly. According to Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam (2023), by 2030 need about 2–3 GW of storage capacity to balance the power system【Source: Power Plan VIII】.
Domestic BESS container manufacturers such as Taiyo Energy have advantages in:
- 26+ years of mechanical and steel structure experience
- Factory-integrated CSC inspection station, Bureau Veritas certified
- Location near seaport (Dinh Vu ~27 km, Lach Huyen ~45 km) help optimize logistics
However, challenges also exist:
- Lack of national standards for BESS.
- Compete with international manufacturers.
- Full UL, IEC compliance required for export.
In the context of increasing demand for energy storage, BESS Container is becoming an inevitable trend thanks to its ability to reduce investment costs, shorten deployment time and increase the level of standardization compared to traditional ESS systems.
International standards such as CSC, UL9540, IEC62933 play a key role in ensuring safety, quality and exportability, creating a “fence” of trust for both manufacturers and investors.
Vietnam currently possesses great potential to develop BESS Containers, especially when combining long-standing mechanical and steel structure experience with the advantage of logistics near seaports, allowing for more convenient access to regional and international markets.
Therefore, when choosing an energy storage solution, engineers and managers should carefully consider factors such as flexibility, international standards, life-cycle costs and scalability – criteria where BESS Container is demonstrating a clear advantage over traditional ESS.
