Preventing Battery Fires: Strategies and Challenges in Energy Storage Safety

The Best Time to Stop a Battery Fire? Before It Starts.

Battery fires pose significant challenges for both first responders and manufacturers. A recent incident at the Moss Landing Power Plant highlighted the complexities involved in managing such fires. After a major blaze at a battery storage facility last week, flames reignited, underscoring the persistent danger associated with lithium-ion batteries. These types of fires burn hotter than traditional fires and can reignite even after appearing to be extinguished. As the prevalence of these batteries increases, first responders are adapting their strategies for dealing with battery-related incidents.

“Fires in batteries are pretty nasty,” states Nadim Maluf, CEO and cofounder of Qnovo, a company specializing in battery management systems and analytics. While extinguishing a fire in a gasoline-powered vehicle may be straightforward, combating an electric vehicle (EV) fire often requires significantly more water. In many cases, it may be safer to let battery fires burn out on their own, as noted by Maya Kapoor in her report for MIT Technology Review. An expert quoted in her story emphasized that “until a battery is dismantled and recycled, it’s always going to be a hazard.”

The recent reignition at Moss Landing, the world’s largest battery storage project, serves as a stark example of this issue. In mid-January, a fire destroyed a substantial portion of a 300-megawatt grid storage array. The facility remained quiet for weeks until residents received an alert last Tuesday night advising them to stay indoors and close their windows. Although Vistra, the owner of the power plant, did not respond to written inquiries for this story, they did issue a public statement confirming that flames were observed at the facility on Tuesday, and the fire had extinguished itself by Wednesday morning.

Even after a battery has burned, some cells can retain a charge, which poses a risk of new fires or hazards for cleanup crews long after the initial incident. Vistra has initiated a process to de-link the batteries at Moss Landing, which involves disconnecting the electrical connections between them to mitigate future risks. This de-linking effort began on February 22 and is expected to take a few weeks to complete.

Despite ongoing efforts to limit risks at the site, the cause of the initial fire at Moss Landing remains unknown. Vistra’s website indicates that an investigation is currently underway in collaboration with local officials. Battery fires can be triggered by various factors, including water damage or physical punctures, but they can also ignite during normal operation if a minor manufacturing defect goes unnoticed and escalates into a more serious issue. A notable example is the Samsung Galaxy Note phones, which were banned from airplanes due to spontaneous combustion resulting from a manufacturing defect that caused short-circuiting. Similarly, the Chevy Bolt vehicles faced recalls due to fire risks traced back to manufacturing issues.

An essential aspect of battery safety involves designing EV packs and large stationary storage arrays to slow down and contain fires when they occur. Significant advancements in fire suppression technology have been made in recent years, and first responders are increasingly equipped to manage out-of-control battery fires. However, the ultimate aim remains fire prevention.

Identifying manufacturing defects poses a significant challenge, akin to searching for a needle in a haystack, according to Maluf. The complexities of battery chemistry and cell design mean that even the smallest issue can lead to substantial problems later on. Nonetheless, fire prevention is crucial for gaining public trust. Investing in safety improvements is vital, as batteries play an essential role in the transition to cleaner energy sources for both the power grid and transportation sectors. “I don’t believe the answer is stopping these projects,” Maluf asserts. “That train has left the station.”