This work describes an improved risk assessment approach for analyzing safety designs in the battery energy storage system incorporated in large-scale solar to improve accident prevention and mitigation, via incorporating probabilistic event tree and systems theoretic analysis. The causal factors and mitigation measures are presented.
Sources of wind and solar electrical power need large energy storage, most often provided by Lithium-Ion batteries of unprecedented capacity. Incidents of serious fire and explosion suggest that
lithium-ion batteries per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy has dropped nearly 90% since 2010, from more than $1,100/kWh to about $137/kWh, and is likely to approach $100/kWh by 2023.2 These price reductions are attributable to new cathode chemistries used in battery design, lower materials prices,
Decentralised lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) can address some of the electricity storage challenges of a low-carbon power sector by increasing the share of self-consumption for photovoltaic systems of residential households.
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have raised increasing interest due to their high potential for providing efficient energy storage and environmental sustainability [1]. LIBs are currently used not only in portable electronics, such as computers and cell phones [2], but also for electric or hybrid vehicles [3].
Lithium-ion batteries are here to stay. Use cases are growing every day. Cell pricing continues to decline and manufacturing is ramping up to meet global demand. At the same time, battery energy density continues to improve, and manufacturers are developing more cost‑effective packaging to reduce installation costs. And, finally, though current fire safety concerns are serious, they can be addressed with proper equipment selection, planning and engineering.
Any discussion about the future of lithium-ion technology typically starts with cost. In 2010, lithium battery pack pricing was around $1,200 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for large-scale storage configurations. As of early 2020, pack pricing was less than $160/kWh and continuing to decline.
With 29 confirmed lithium‑ion fires in South Korea as of year-end 2019, the South Korean government issued a moratorium on new storage projects and initiated a root cause investigation that lasted five months and covered 23 of the 29 fires. The investigation determined that poor battery integration was a leading contributor to the fires. Examples of poor integration include lack of DC ground fault protection, poor humidity control, water ingress, module damage during installation, and faulty control systems.
Lithium-ion battery fires are typically the result of thermal runaway, a process caused either by battery cell manufacturing defects or some form of battery abuse. Generally, there are three forms of battery abuse: electrical (over-charging, for example), mechanical (puncturing or dropping the battery module, for example), or thermal (heating a battery beyond its temperature range, for example).
Most typically, battery storage containers have been outfitted with a clean agent or aerosol-type fire prevention system. These have been shown to be very ineffective at controlling the thermal runaway process.
When a lithium-ion battery cell is damaged, it will typically release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a result of electrolyte vaporization and a subsequent rupture of the cell packaging. If the abuse continues, smoke and heat follow shortly thereafter. The period between off-gas release and smoke beginning can range from seconds to minutes depending on a variety of factors and typically precedes other early warning signs, including cell voltage and temperature excursions, by minutes.
Off-gas detection systems are commercially available that can sense the VOCs released as a result of cell damage. These systems consist of small sensors placed on the battery racks and wired back to a controller that determines the presence of abnormal levels of VOCs. Upon detection of an off-gas event, the system can initiate an alarm and shutdown of the battery. By detecting the damage before the thermal process begins, off‑gas detection systems may be one of the only external protective devices available today that can effectively prevent thermal runaway.
When water has been used to fight lithium-ion battery fires, runoff has later been tested and found to contain a number of hazardous substances including mercury and other heavy metals. At this time, there are no known U.S. federal standards that address fire event water runoff from lithium-ion batteries and state/local standards are inconsistent at best.
Without clear regulatory guidance, it is important that the industry develop more coordinated and cohesive methods for preventing runoff of hazardous materials at large-scale lithium‑ion battery installations. It is recommended that any firewater runoff be tested before being conveyed to any public sanitary or wastewater system.
When considering the installation of a new lithium‑ion energy storage facility, one of the first contacts should be with the local fire marshal or other authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to discuss the fire risk.
According to the hazardous materials code under National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Section 400, lithium-ion battery fires are considered a Class D (Metal) fire. Thus, different firefighting techniques are required, as conventional tactics might make a lithium-ion fire worse. Therefore, it''s vitally important to proactively communicate with fire departments, talking early and often so they understand the hazards of these unique systems and can adequately prepare for any issues.
A prudent additional step would be placing signage on buildings or containers giving firefighters information about the types of batteries inside and the types of chemistries associated with those batteries.
The signage should warn of the presence of lithium-ion batteries and should provide basic information about the battery such as chemistry. The signage should also include contact information for obtaining any additional information that may be needed such as the battery manufacturer, system voltage, potential off gases, and other hazards associated with the installation.
With lithium-ion battery technology advancing quickly, the industry must develop designs and strategies at the very earliest stages of the project to mitigate risks associated with battery hazards. Doing so as the project develops or as an afterthought may be too late to effectively pivot to new technology or techniques for managing battery safety. This is especially critical considering the size of the projects currently under development and construction.
Finally, we must anticipate that some failures of these systems will occur. Even with millions of cells performing exactly as designed, a single cell defect can trigger an event. Ultimately, early detection and then quick shutdown of the entire system might be the best technique available to limit widescale damage. And when issues do occur, it is important to see that that first responders are aware of the unique hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries and can respond appropriately.
About 160 kWh lithium-ion battery energy storage safety
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