Environmental Risks from Battery Storage Fires in the U.S. Remain Manageable, According to Recent Findings

Recent findings from the Clean Energy Association of America indicate that the environmental risks associated with battery energy storage system fires in the U.S. are manageable. A third-party review of large-scale battery energy storage system fires occurring since 2012 showed that these incidents did not lead to pollutant concentrations that would raise public health concerns or necessitate further remediation.

On January 16, 2025, a fire broke out at the Moslantin battery energy storage system. Concurrently, the Clean Energy Association released a safety blueprint for battery storage systems, recommending that operators adhere to the latest national fire safety standards. The association advised operators to inspect deployed systems and collaborate with state and local governments to devise hazard mitigation and emergency response plans.

Noah Roberts, Vice President of Storage at the Clean Energy Association, stated, “Every community across the United States should be assured that the battery storage systems providing them with power meet the highest safety standards.” The association commissioned the Fire & Risk Alliance to conduct this fire safety review, which analyzed 35 recorded battery storage system fires, including notable incidents in New York and Idaho in 2023, which reportedly destroyed a significant portion of the batteries involved.

Following their investigation, the Fire & Risk Alliance found that emissions from battery storage system fires were primarily confined to nearby areas, dissipating rapidly in open environments. Post-incident monitoring in California and New York indicated that concentrations of toxic chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid and hydrogen cyanide did not reach hazardous levels, leading authorities to lift shelter-in-place orders. While concerns were raised over potential soil and water contamination from firefighting water, data did not support claims of widespread pollution risks.

For lithium-ion battery fires, best practices recommend allowing the fire to burn out on its own and using water for cooling only when necessary, coupled with standard stormwater management measures to minimize pollutant release. The Fire & Risk Alliance’s analysis of historical battery storage system fires revealed common characteristics. Many incidents involved systems deployed before safety standards were established, lacking rigorous testing or integrated safety features. Nearly half of the incidents occurred within the first six months of operation.

According to the investigation, 69% of fire incidents happened during operation, while 17% occurred during assembly, testing, or pre-commissioning stages. Notably, the Moslantin battery energy storage system fire that occurred in California in January, which destroyed most of a 1000 MWh battery system, was not included in this review. Air monitoring conducted by U.S. federal and California environmental agencies, as well as environmental tests by the project owner, Vistra Energy, found no significant public health threats. However, local media reported that residents experienced unexplained symptoms following the fire.

Phil Sgro, a spokesperson for the Clean Energy Association, acknowledged the public’s safety and health concerns raised by this incident. He emphasized that this was an unprecedented event and expressed hope that similar occurrences would not happen in the future. The Clean Energy Association reiterated that its safety blueprint aims to prevent future battery storage system fires and enhance the safety of existing and future systems. They classified the Moslantin battery system fire as an “anomaly,” partly due to its location in a turbine hall built in the 1950s.

To address safety concerns, the Clean Energy Association recommended the following:

• Adopt the latest version of the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 855.
• Review battery storage systems deployed before the NFPA 855 standard implementation, develop hazard mitigation plans, and establish emergency response procedures.
• Collaborate with local communities and fire officials to address safety issues, provide site selection and permitting information, and train state and local personnel on battery storage system safety.