Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are integral to transitioning towards a cleaner energy future. They provide a solution for storing and releasing excess renewable energy during high-demand periods. The BESS market in the United States has experienced remarkable growth, increasing from 1.65 GWh in 2020 to approximately 40 GWh by 2024, with further growth projected by 2030. However, this rapid expansion brings increased safety challenges, particularly the risk of fires.
E3 Consulting’s Lucian Gavriliuc, P.E., serves as Executive Director of the Energy Storage Practice, which offers technical advisory services to developers, lenders, investors, and other stakeholders in the energy storage industry. A recurring question he receives concerns the safety of energy storage facilities. In his article, “Mitigating Fire Risks in Battery Energy Storage Systems: Best Practices and Emerging Technologies,” he provides an overview of fire safety incidents in the U.S. energy storage sector. He notes that between 2020 and 2025, 19 BESS sites were impacted by fires, accounting for nearly 10% of all BESS sites, although fires represent just over 1% of the total installed capacity.
Lucian emphasizes the importance of learning from past incidents to enhance the safety of BESS installations. He advocates for improvements in system design, integrating advanced detection and suppression technologies, and ensuring ongoing facility maintenance. By proactively addressing the unique challenges faced by BESS, Lucian argues that we can build a safer and more reliable energy storage infrastructure for the future.
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To contact Lucian for additional information about this topic or to discuss your project’s requirements and E3’s energy storage solutions, please message him at lucian.gavriliuc@e3co.com.
