PVTIME – A series of fires involving lithium-ion energy storage systems in multiple regions of the United States has reignited discussions within the industry about the risks associated with storage safety. The incidents involved residential storage hardware and domestic battery power walls. The thermal runaway behaviour inherent to lithium-ion cells has prolonged the emergency response at each site.
On 26 July, a lithium-ion battery mounted outside a residence in North Berkeley caught fire. Primarily powering a Tesla vehicle, the battery was charged by rooftop photovoltaic hardware. Flames quickly spread to nearby palm trees, and residents reported smelling fumes from electrical combustion before the flames appeared. Subsequently, local households checked their domestic electrical devices for signs of overheating.
On 29 July, FOX26 news reported a further storage fire in Visalia, California. Fire services attended a blaze affecting a rear garden outbuilding on the 2300 block of South West Vista, which was completely consumed by fire upon their arrival. Investigations traced the cause of the fire to a residential battery energy storage system housed within the structure. Despite the open flames being extinguished, the risk of ongoing chemical activity and re-ignition led the authorities to issue a shelter-in-place notice, close adjacent roads, and accommodate approximately ten households until the chemical reactions subsided.
On the same day, a separate lithium-ion battery container fire occurred at Venture Logistics in Mayodan, North Carolina. WXII 12 Television reported that the fire was under control by 11.23pm. Fire commanders opted to secure the perimeter and allow the batteries to burn out naturally, as extinguishing lithium cell fires completely presents significant challenges. Authorities established a 300-foot evacuation zone and provided temporary shelter. These measures were withdrawn the following morning, once engineers had begun dismantling the affected container.
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