Are lithium-ion batteries safe?

Lithium-ion batteries are the most widespread portable energy storage solution – but there are growing concerns regarding their safety.

Why is safe battery storage important?

In industrial settings, safe battery storage can be crucial so that in the event of unwanted failure, the resulting fire can be more easily contained and controlled and does not spread – which can quickly cause catastrophic consequences.

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.

Why is battery energy storage important?

Energy storage fundamentally improves the way we generate, deliver, and consume electricity. Battery energy storage systems can perform, among others, the following functions: Provide the flexibility needed to increase the level of variable solar and wind energy that can be accommodated on the grid.

Are battery energy storage systems visible from a property line?

Battery energy storage systems may or may not be visible from a facility’s property line. Grid batteries can be housed in a variety of enclosures or buildings, none of which are taller than a house. Energy storage facilities are often unmanned and do not need light to function.

Are solid-state batteries the future of energy storage?

Therefore, developing next-generation energy-storage technologies with innate safety and high energy density is essential for large-scale energy-storage systems. In this context, solid-state batteries (SSBs) have been revived recently due to their unparalleled safety and high energy density (Fig. 1).