The 2024 Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) will be issued on March 1, bringing with it sustainability-related specifications that will change how builders make upgrades. While the Code itself still needs to be adopted into law by individual provinces—usually with some modifications and special conditions—a version of these regulations will come into effect across the country soon. The Code continues to evolve as energy management, electrical vehicle charging, and energy storage systems technologies advance, says the Canadian Standards Association.
Here are three major updates in the 2024 Code that may make it easier to adopt green energy solutions in your next remodel.
1) Larger batteries can now be stored indoors
There is a growing number of cottagers using their own energy storage systems, which can help them save on electricity bills or even go off-grid. Often, these systems come in the form of batteries that store energy from solar panels and other modular electricity generators.
But large batteries can pose a fire risk due to their high energy density, so Codes have been cautious about permitting them to be installed inside homes. The 2021 CEC only allows residential batteries to be installed outside the property or inside a garage if they are rated at under 1 kWh—only enough energy to power the average Canadian household for about 20 minutes. (Most batteries you would use in an off-grid system are rated between 20–40 kWh.)
This can pose difficulties for the systems since weather conditions severely affect their utility. In temperatures below 0°C, especially below -20°C, lithium-ion battery efficiency diminishes. Meanwhile, ambient temperatures above 32°C can make the lithium-ion batteries explode altogether. In a warming Canada, where 2023’s record temperature was 42°C, large batteries can be hazardous to maintain outside.
To address the issue, the 2024 CEC will increase the indoor limit to a maximum of two 20 kWh batteries, but only if the batteries meet certain performance requirements and are housed in rooms that adhere to fire safety guidelines. The updates will also permit up to four 20 kWh batteries outside the residence or in an attached garage. It also provides more detailed formal guidance on ESS in dwelling units. This will result in a much more efficient installation workflow, promote battery installations, and likely prevent much handwringing from future DIYers.
2) Solar panel energy systems will become easier to operate
Solar panels are an established and mature technology. But performance-enhancing features on solar panels, such as the module-level power electronics (MLPE), which boost performance in the shade, are less established. As a result, in previous codes “rapid shutdown” switches were introduced to help installers, firefighters, and homeowners stop voltage and current immediately when making repairs or addressing malfunctions.
A new rapid shutdown method is being permitted in 2024, as well as some adjustments to technical requirements for renewable energy systems. This includes changes in placement of inverters and disconnects, which can simplify electrical systems and make them easier to manage. Consumers will likely see these changes through a range of safety improvements and additional features in the future. Requirements and regulations for new technologies are often changing, making devices easier for alternative energy enthusiasts to safely operate.
3) Electric vehicle charging will become more efficient
Cottagers who own EVs and who want to install chargers need to ensure there is enough electrical capacity on their property to accommodate them. It’s expected that the electrical supply should be able to simultaneously support operations in the residence as well as every charger in the house.
In residences that need multiple EV charging stalls, though, balancing electrical load can become challenging. This is where electric vehicle energy management systems (EVEMSs) come in. EVEMSs help manage this issue by adjusting the energy levels of a fleet of chargers. In a parking garage, for example, EVEMSs help cars take turns charging to prevent circuit overload, and automatically stops trying to charge them when the cars are fully charged. That means that a residence could install more chargers than their house’s electrical capacity would otherwise accommodate.
The 2024 CEC takes this into consideration, adjusting capacity requirements so that when an EVEMS is used, a larger number of chargers are allowed to be installed. This will make it easier for places that need multiple EV spots to do so without requiring as much electrical supply.
These tweaks to regulatory language will increase the sophistication of how builders, manufacturers, and homeowners address alternative energy solutions. They, like other building codes being developed regularly, contribute to making green upgrades safer and more mainstream.
Update: Additional information has been added to clarify the wattage of batteries permitted inside under the 2021 version of the CEC Code.
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