To prevent this, energy storage systems must be equipped with robust Battery Management Systems (BMS) that monitor key parameters like temperature, voltage, and charge/discharge rates.
Fire incidents in battery energy storage systems (BESS) are rare but receive significant public and regulatory attention due to their dramatic impact on communities, first responders, and the environment. Although these incidents are decreasing, each case provides insights to improve energy storage safety.
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.
With the advantages of high energy density, short response time and low economic cost, utility-scale lithium-ion battery energy storage systems are built and installed around the world. However, due to the thermal runaway characteristics of lithium-ion batteries, much more attention is attracted to the fire safety of battery energy storage systems.
Since December 2019, Siemens has been offering a VdS-certified fire detection concept for stationary lithium-ion battery energy storage systems.* Through Siemens research with multiple lithium-ion battery manufacturers, the FDA unit has proven to detect a pending battery fire event up to 5 times faster than competitive detection technologies.
High-quality fire extinguishing agents and effective fire extinguishing strategies are the main means and necessary measures to suppress disasters in the design of battery energy storage stations . Traditional fire extinguishing methods include isolation, asphyxiation, cooling, and chemical suppression .
To strengthen battery energy storage safety management, manufacturers now conduct large-scale fire testing (LSFT) to provide evidence when assessing the risks and support regulatory approvals. Adherence to international standards ensures that BESS projects integrate fire suppression, gas detection, and proper site management.