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 do ESS fire protection systems work?

These layers of protection help prevent damage to the system but can also block water from accessing the seat of the fire. This means that it takes large amounts of water to efectively dissipate the heat generated from ESS fires since cooling the hottest part of the fire is often dificult.

Why do we need energy storage systems?

Growing concerns about the use of fossil fuels and greater demand for a cleaner, more eficient, and more resilient energy grid has led to the use of energy storage systems (ESS), and that use has increased substantially over the past decade.

What happened at Gateway energy storage facility?

On May 15, 2024, Gateway Energy Storage Facility in San Diego, California, experienced a BESS fire with continued flare-ups for seven days following the fire. The facility held about 15,000 nickel manganese cobalt lithium-ion batteries.

How do you prevent a fire?

Current guidance is to focus the response on preventing the spread of fire. Direct fire crews to let the fire burn itself out and to use water to prevent the spread of fire to neighboring batteries or other structures. Research is ongoing into the most effective method of water application to prevent spread.