Battery energy storage systems (BESS) can be used for a variety of applications, including frequency regulation, demand response, transmission and distribution infrastructure deferral, integration of renewable energy, and microgrids. This storage technology is vital, as it turns power generated by non-dispatchable energy sources — such as wind and solar — into dispatchable ones, thereby improving grid reliability and allowing the integration of even more renewable capacity.
As the BESS industry grows and demand for renewable energy increases, ESS facilities will likely continue to proliferate in communities and urban areas around the world, providing multiple benefits, along with some risks. Lithium-ion batteries are generally very safe, but they have been linked to fire, explosion, and hazardous material exposure under certain conditions. As storage emerges into the utility and power system mainstream, gaps in safety practices for energy storage technologies are coming to light.
This course will provide an in-depth overview of the hazards and operating risks associated with battery storage. In addition, it will provide a brief review of the different battery types, new standards that help with safety, how to design and operate for safety, and testing standards.
Learning Outcomes
- Review the different types of battery storage
- Identify the different types of safety hazards for batteries
- Review the hazards associated with each type of battery
- Discuss the testing standards and certifications for safety
- Discuss how to design for safety and operating safely
- Examine installation measures for batteries
- Discuss decommissioning & removal practices
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 : CENTRAL TIME
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. :: Overview and Introductions
Quick Review of Battery Types
- Lead-Acid
- Lithium-Ion
- Other Non-flow chemistries that are commercial
- Redox Flow batteries
- Organic Flow batteries
- Plating Flow batteries
Battery Safety Hazards
- Leakage and spills
- Stray voltage
- Off-gassing
- Thermal run away
- Toxic fumes
- Hazardous waste
- Power quality
- Other
Battery Type vs. Hazard
- Which battery types have which hazards
- Variations in a chemical family (e.g. Li-Ion)
Standards That Apply to Safety
- NFPA 855
- NFPA (NEC) 70
- IEEE 1625
- IEEE 1725
- ISO/IEC 17025
- UN/DOT 38.3
- Other safety standards
Testing Standards and Certifications
- UL 1642 Lithium Cell
- UL 2054 Safety Requirements for Household and Commercial Batteries
- UL 2580
- UL 1989 Standby Batteries
- UL/CSA/IEC 60950 (may be evaluated in conjunction with UL 2054)
Designing for Safety
- Which standards apply to your project
- Which chemistry best fits your use case(s)
- Optimizing non-flow batteries deployment
- Siting considerations
- Containment measures
- Civil and electrical infrastructure limits/issues/concerns
- Housing and other occupied structures around your site
- What comes “out of the box” from the battery manufacturer
- ALL hazards associated with specific chemistry chosen
General Installation Measures
- Fire suppression system
- The right firewalls/construction type
- Enough room to get emergency vehicles into the site
- Sources of water for emergency use
- Secondary containment
- Proper grounding
- Arc flash prevention/safe distances
- Automated protection system(s) — electrical fire, off-gassing -etc.
- Proper sensors for any hazard
- Etc.
Operating Safety
- Use case and the battery limits
- Maintenance
- Limits to operation
Decommissioning & Removal
- Batteries life and variations
- Design that incorporates decommissioning
*Throughout the discussion, to illustrate points, compare and contrast safety concerns, design issues, etc., two battery deployment examples will be used — a 1 MW/4 MWH Li-Ion battery setup and a 5MW/40 MWH flow battery