(10c) Lessons Learned from Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Hazard Analyses

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) energy storage systems are a significant part of the energy transition. Codes and standards are quickly adapting globally to incorporate a framework for the safe design, siting, installation, commissioning and decommissioning of battery energy storage system (BESS). Full-scale fire testing is essential to understand the thermal runaway, fire, and explosion hazards of the LIBs and BESSs. Engineers must then interpret that data to inform the design but there is cell, module, unit and installation-level data to decipher. Proper use of the testing data and an understanding of its limitations are critical for the design and operation of BESSs. Real-life examples of where data can lead engineers astray will be presented in an effort to bridge the knowledge gaps between stakeholders, industry, and engineers.