Are battery energy storage systems safe?

Safety incidents are, on the whole, extremely rare due to the incorporation of prevention, protection and mitigation measures in the design and operation of storage systems. A common concern raised by some communities living close to sites identified for battery energy storage systems is around the risk of fire.

What is a battery energy storage system?

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) stabilize the electrical grid, ensuring a steady flow of power to homes and businesses regardless of fluctuations from varied energy sources or other disruptions. However, fires at some BESS installations have caused concern in communities considering BESS as a method to support their grids.

How to reduce the safety risk associated with large battery systems?

To reduce the safety risk associated with large battery systems, it is imperative to consider and test the safety at all levels, from the cell level through module and battery level and all the way to the system level, to ensure that all the safety controls of the system work as expected.

What are grid-scale battery-based energy storage systems?

Most grid-scale battery-based energy storage systems use rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology. This is a similar technology to that used in smartphones and electric cars but aggregated at scale to deliver much greater electricity storage capability.

Are battery energy storage sites at risk of fire?

A common concern raised by some communities living close to sites identified for battery energy storage systems is around the risk of fire. In this section we will outline how this threat is guarded against but first it is important to understand where the risk of a fire comes from.

Do grid energy storage systems generate electricity?

Grid energy storage systems are “enabling technologies”; they do not generate electricity, but they do enable critical advances to modernize and stabilize the electric grid.