Interpretation of the latest fire protection policy for energy storage power stations

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.

How many MWh of battery energy were involved in the fires?

In total, more than 180 MWh were involved in the fires. For context, Wood Mackenzie, which conducts power and renewable energy research, estimates 17.9 GWh of cumulative battery energy storage capacity was operating globally in that same period, implying that nearly 1 out of every 100 MWh had failed in this way.1

Are battery energy storage systems safe?

Owners of energy storage need to be sure that they can deploy systems safely. Over a recent 18-month period ending in early 2020, over two dozen large-scale battery energy storage sites around the world had experienced failures that resulted in destructive fires. In total, more than 180 MWh were involved in the fires.

Can a safety guidance be applied to existing systems?

While this guidance is predominantly intended for fu-ture systems where there is opportunity to afect the design process, it could also be applied to existing systems, identifying presently unrec-ognized failure modes and incentivizing modifications to operational procedures and/or response plans that can improve safety.

Should deflagration management be combined with fire suppression?

nt not to combine deflagration management and fire suppression. If there is a propagating thermal runaway event, the fire suppression system could seemingly extinguish a fire but allow prop-agation to continue without flame, venting flammable gases into the enclosure to a poi

How are Bess installations evaluated for fire protection and Hazard Mitigation?

In 2020 and 2021, eight BESS installations were evaluated for fire protection and hazard mitigation using the ESIC Reference HMA. Review specifications, design drawings, performance data, and operations and maintenance documentation provided by the site host participant. Document important safety-relevant features (and lack thereof).