US battery storage systems are evolving into lower fire risk technology: analyst

Energy transition highlights: Our editors and analysts bring together the biggest stories in the industry this week, from renewables to storage to carbon prices.

Safety concerns are not expected to have a significant impact on US battery energy storage system capacity additions in the near future, an S&P Global Commodity Insights analyst said after one of the largest BESS facilities caught fire in California.

Battery storage capacity saw significant growth in the US in 2024, with total capacity jumping 81% year on year in the third quarter of 2024 to 26 GW. While incidents like the Jan. 16 Moss Landing firespark concern, the market has evolved significantly in recent years, according to Henrique Ribeiro, principal analyst of batteries and energy storage at Commodity Insights.

“Incidents with battery storage are rare, but no system is 100% failproof,” Ribeiro said.

BESS facilities like Vistra Energy’s Moss Landing typically rely on lithium-ion battery cells, which have flammable electrolytes. Physical abuse, inappropriate use or cell defects can lead to fires.

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Gentari matures 175,000 mt/y low-carbon hydrogen projects globally end-2024

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Denmark scraps 3-GW offshore wind auction for redesign, accelerates hydrogen exports

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