Battery storage is proven, safe and reliable

BESS projects are designed and regulated to protect public safety. As a result, BESS fires are extremely rare and contained, without a single case of a fire spreading beyond a project’s safety perimeters.

Avantus takes proactive steps to avoid, reduce, and mitigate potential fire risks per California state regulations, national standards committees, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories, and guidelines laid out by the LA County Fire Code, California Fire Code, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Together, these standards require rigorous testing that demonstrates and certifies that the battery storage systems will not pose a fire risk to surrounding structures.

Angeleno will meet or exceed the requirements of the latest NFPA safety standards, and will include a minimum 100-foot clearance between battery containers and other exposures such as lot lines, buildings, public roads, and any combustible material such as vegetation. In addition, batteries from top-tier suppliers with strong safety records will be extensively tested according to state and nationally recognized codes, and batteries will be separated from one another to further mitigate the risk of an unlikely fire event spreading. Protection equipment and control features, including 24/7 monitoring, reduces risk and can turn off battery units in a timely manner if abnormal conditions are detected.

Lithium-ion batteries have well-established safety regulations and parameters. Installed batteries must come from certified sources, meet all relevant standards and codes, including the latest NFPA and UL standards.

Lithium-ion batteries are common in household items like mobile phones, tablets, power tools, and increasingly, electric vehicles and home backup batteries. The batteries used for projects like Angeleno use the same core technology as found in these widespread household batteries. However, unlike these uses, utility-scale battery projects are stationary and protected from impacts and moving objects, eliminating the risks associated with dynamic impacts (e.g. an electric vehicle car crash or dropping a phone.)

In the unlikely event that a fire occurs within the project site, the site design and batteries are engineered and tested to prevent fire from spreading. The battery containers are spaced such that a fire in one will not propagate to any adjacent containers, electrical equipment, or beyond the project site. Also, vegetation and any combustible materials will be removed from areas within the project site and the smoke from burning battery materials contains no embers, further limiting risk of a brush fire.

Our projects are monitored for any warning signs of potential issues and hazards. In addition, the site operator and fire fighters from local fire department are trained for response according to our emergency response plan and onsite water tanks will be available for LA County Fire Department use.

The Angeleno Storage Center would be designed to the latest safety standards, enforced at the state and national level, to ensure battery safety in the unfortunate event of a nearby wildfire. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards require a minimum 100-foot clearance between battery containers and other exposures, including any combustible material, like vegetation. Additionally, California requires all battery storage structures to withstand extreme temperatures. Furthermore, wall insulation, self-cooling capabilities, and other structural elements keep the ambient temperature inside the battery units at a safe level and prevent overheating.

If necessary, the 500kV gen-tie line connecting the project to Vincent Substation would be de-energized. Angeleno would also be designed to withstand wildfires.

The risk of chemical leaks at a battery storage facility is minimal. In the highly unlikely event of a fire incident, battery containers are designed to contain any liquid chemicals, and any vented smoke or vapors are primarily composed of organic gases and residues that are no more toxic than burning household items like furniture. Gases released during such an event would disperse easily in open air and therefore pose little hazard to health. In coordination with the LA County Fire Department, first responders will be trained to limit chemical exposure and the spread of fire.

Angeleno will be designed to withstand earthquakes and meet or exceed seismic safety standards, including specific standards for the structural foundation and the enclosures which house the batteries.