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.

Is battery storage a bad policy?

"Simply put, it is not just a bad policy, but a dangerous one, and the city is literally playing with fire by allowing this to happen." Holden is talking about proposals to build more battery energy storage system (Bess) centres - large-scale power storage sites based on the same lithium-ion batteries that are used in laptops and electric cars.

Will Holden build more battery energy storage centres?

Holden is talking about proposals to build more battery energy storage system (Bess) centres - large-scale power storage sites based on the same lithium-ion batteries that are used in laptops and electric cars. The batteries are stored, thousands together, in large metal boxes.

What happened at Gateway energy storage facility?

On May 15, 2024, Gateway Energy Storage Facility in San Diego, California, experienced a BESS fire with continued flare-ups for seven days following the fire. The facility held about 15,000 nickel manganese cobalt lithium-ion batteries.

Should battery safety be harmonised?

When it comes to safety, experts are calling for greater, and more unified, regulation. "From our point of view, it's important to have it harmonised as far as possible, because certainly in the European Union there is no such thing as an EU-wide standard for the quality and maintenance of battery assets," says Mr Acke.