Energy storage
Battery storage enclosures, from a cabinet to a BESS.
We build three kinds of lithium battery enclosure in Santa Rosa, California: Sentinel Mini cabinets, Sentinel walk-ins and EnergyCube BESS enclosures for integrators. Here is how to tell which one your project needs.
Most battery projects come down to two questions: what are you storing, and where can it go? If the batteries fit on shelves and can stay indoors, a cabinet usually covers it. Pallets, racks, charging or an outdoor site point to a walk-in. Batteries that will be connected and running as an energy storage system need a BESS enclosure, and that is a different kind of project.
We build all of them in our own shop and install the ventilation, detection and controls your project calls for before the enclosure ships. Your local fire marshal or other authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) decides what your site needs, and we configure the enclosure around that review.
Energy storage enclosures
Choose by where it goes and what it holds.
Cabinet · indoor only
Sentinel Mini Battery Cabinets
Five standard cabinet sizes with three levels of perforated steel shelving, for parts rooms, service bays and fleet shops. Sentinel Mini is for indoor use only. Standard models can be ordered online, and options are configured through us.
- Indoor only
- Five standard sizes
- Order online or request a quote
Walk-in · outdoor container
Sentinel Walk-In Battery Storage
Walk-in containers for lithium-ion and LiFePO4 storage, staging and charging, with ventilation, detection, suppression and the AEL CORE control panel installed. Designed and built to UL 1487 and NFPA 855 standards.
- 8×10, 8×20 and 8×40 sizes
- Racking and charging options
- AEL CORE control panel
Walk-in · inside your building
Indoor Battery Enclosures
Sentinel rooms, rack-access enclosures and cabinets for the floor you already operate. Exhaust, detection, suppression and controls are installed and wired in our shop, so the site work is placement, connections and commissioning. Designed and built to UL 1487 and NFPA 855 standards.
- No yard space needed
- Pre-wired before delivery
- Fire alarm interface
BESS · for integrators
EnergyCube BESS Enclosures
BESS enclosures for integrators who bring their own batteries and power electronics. We build the structure, thermal management, fire-system options and controls around your equipment. Designed and built to UL 1487 and NFPA 855 standards.
- Your batteries and electronics
- Thermal management
- Factory-integrated controls
Side by side
Cabinet, walk-in or BESS at a glance.
| Sentinel Mini | Sentinel walk-in | Indoor Sentinel | EnergyCube | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where it goes | Indoors only | Outdoors, in your yard | Inside your building | Outdoors, at the project site |
| What it holds | Batteries and modules on shelves | Pallets, racks and modules, with room to work inside | Racks or modules next to the service bay, UPS room or line | Your own batteries and power electronics |
| Typical buyers | Dealerships, fleet shops, e-bike and parts rooms | Dealerships, data centers, solar and microgrid sites | Facilities without yard space | BESS integrators who supply their own equipment |
| How it’s ordered | Standard sizes, online or by quote | Quoted per project | Quoted per project | Engineered with your team |
Still deciding? Our guide, How to choose a lithium battery storage enclosure, walks through the questions we ask on a first call: siting, battery condition, off-gas, suppression and AHJ review.
Applications
Where our battery enclosures go.
Battery storage with Sentinel and Sentinel Mini
- Auto dealerships: EV battery storage containers for the service lot
- EV dealership parts and service: indoor cabinets near the bay
- Electric fleets and depots
- E-bike and micromobility
- Data centers and AI infrastructure
- Solar and microgrid projects
- OEM and private-label enclosures for integrators
Energy storage systems with EnergyCube
FAQ
Questions we hear about battery enclosures.
Can a Sentinel Mini cabinet go outside?
No. Sentinel Mini cabinets are for indoor use only. If your batteries have to be stored outdoors, look at a Sentinel walk-in container instead.
What standards are Sentinel and EnergyCube built to?
Sentinel walk-ins, indoor Sentinel enclosures and EnergyCube enclosures are designed and built to UL 1487 and NFPA 855 standards. Our control panels are built to UL 508A, and we use UL or ETL listed components. Your local fire marshal or other AHJ decides what your installation needs, and we document the enclosure for that review.
Can a Sentinel walk-in be built as a fire assembly?
Yes. Sentinel walk-ins can be built as 1-, 2- or 3-hour fire assemblies, depending on what your local fire authority requires.
What fire suppression do you use?
It depends on the batteries, the site and your AHJ. We are an approved Stat-X distributor, and we also install dry chemical and clean agent systems. We recommend an option once we know what you are storing and where.
What do you need from us to quote?
The battery type and chemistry, how many you will store and how they are packaged, whether anything will be charged, where the enclosure will sit, and any requirements you already have from your AHJ or insurer. Partial answers are fine; we fill in the rest on a call.
Get a quote
Tell us what you’re storing.
Send the battery type, the quantity and where the enclosure will go. An engineer, not a call center, replies within one business day.
- Built in-house: fabrication, electrical, controls and suppression by our own team.
- Approved Stat-X distributor.
- Factory testing, documented as specified.
Financing available. Explore equipment financing and leasing options
- Talk to an engineer (888) 502-6695
- Location 1402 Airport Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
- Hours Mon – Fri, 8AM – 6PM PT
Request received.
Thank you. An AEL representative will review your request and reach out to you soon.
Your inquiry:
What happens next
- Engineering review. An AEL engineer reads your request and checks it against the right product line.
- We reach out within one business day. By email or phone, to confirm scope, site conditions and timeline.
- Specs and pricing. You receive pricing and the key specifications for your configuration. Project drawings are prepared once an order is placed.