Energy storage projects on fire

Are battery energy storage sites a fire hazard?

Fire-related incidents at battery energy storage sites are rare, and investigations into historical incidents have not found health risks to neighbors or the surrounding community.

Are electric vehicles causing a 'battery energy storage fire'?

With the growing number of electric vehicles and batteries for energy storage on the grid, more high-profile fires have hit the news, like last year’s truck fire in LA, the spate of e-bike battery fires in New York City, or one at a French recycling plant last year. “Battery energy storage systems are complex machines,” Mulvaney says.

What happened at a battery energy storage system near London?

A fire at an under-construction, utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) close to London in Thurrock, Essex, was safely brought under control on February 20. Firefighters from Orsett, Corringham and Basildon were called on February 19 to the fire in East Tilbury.

What happened at Moss Landing energy storage facility?

The fire started the afternoon of 16 January, burning through a concrete building full of lithium batteries at the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in Monterey county, California. Other buildings on the site, including more battery storage facilities and a natural gas plant, were not affected.

Will CPUC 'enhance the safety of battery energy storage facilities'?

Politicians, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, supported calls for an independent investigation into the fire at the Vistra Energy-owned facility. At the same time, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has proposed to ‘enhance the safety of battery energy storage facilities’.

Could a battery-swapping system help reduce fire risk?

A battery-swapping system could help address the problem. Insulating materials layered inside EV batteries could help reduce fire risk. A company making them just got a big boost in the form of a loan from the US Department of Energy. New chemistries, like iron-air batteries, promise safer energy storage.