Energy storage battery fire investigation notice

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.

Where can I find information on energy storage safety?

For more information on energy storage safety, visit the Storage Safety Wiki Page. The BESS Failure Incident Database was initiated in 2021 as part of a wider suite of BESS safety research after the concentration of lithium ion BESS fires in South Korea and the Surprise, AZ, incident in the US.

What causes large-scale lithium-ion energy storage battery fires?

Several large-scale lithium-ion energy storage battery fire incidents have involved explosions. The large explosion incidents are due to the deflagration of accumulated flammable gases generated during cell thermal runaways within one or more modules. This leads to damage of battery system enclosures.

What is battery energy storage fire prevention & mitigation?

In 2019, EPRI began the Battery Energy Storage Fire Prevention and Mitigation – Phase I research project, convened a group of experts, and conducted a series of energy storage site surveys and industry workshops to identify critical research and development (R&D) needs regarding battery safety.

Why is a delayed explosion battery ESS incident important?

One delayed explosion battery ESS incident is particularly noteworthy because the severe firefighter injuries and unusual circumstances in this incident were widely reported (Renewable Energy World, 2019).

Where can I find information on energy storage failures?

For up-to-date public data on energy storage failures, see the EPRI BESS Failure Event Database.2 The Energy Storage Integration Coun-cil (ESIC) Energy Storage Reference Fire Hazard Mitigation Analysis (ESIC Reference HMA),3 illustrates the complexity of achieving safe storage systems.