A neighboring town has a developer request to establish a 10MW BESS system at a local substation, and mostly filed paperwork to get clarity on a piece of local law around utility designation. At a prior town board meeting a bunch of concerns were raised about fire, and the board is going to vote on a 6 month moratorium on considering any commercial scale batteries in order to fact find.Â
I've been working with other local advocates to bring forward enough evidence before that vote so that we don't go into the moratorium. I'm curious if any other volunteers have done community engagement around specifically batteries, and had reporting and evidence that can help establish the safety record of these batteries, as well as their benefits to the community.
I worked on batteries on the nuclear sub I was on and for Boeing on the 787. The answer to your question depends on the type of battery technology you plan on using. All three listed below have good safety records and are recommended for the grid. Having a well designed system with good safety mechanisms can be shown to be convincingly safe. Here are the types of technologies that should be considered:
-
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP):
- LFP batteries have a favorable safety profile. They are less prone to thermal runaway and exhibit stable behavior during abuse tests.
- In short circuit, crush, overcharge, and external heating tests, LFP cells perform well and are less susceptible to extreme temperature spikes.
- Early off-gas detection is crucial in preventing thermal runaway for LFP batteries1.
- Tesla Transitions To LFP Battery Cells For Megapack Installations 6: This article reports that Tesla has begun using LFP battery cells in its Megapack grid-scale storage systems, which have some advantages and disadvantages compared to the traditional NCA and NMC batteries. It also mentions that LFP batteries require less complex cooling strategies, lowering costs even more.
- American Battery Factory to launch LFP production in the USÂ 7: This article announces that a new company called American Battery Factory (ABF) has plans to build a network of LFP battery factories in the US, and expects to announce partnerships and its first production facility in the coming months.
-
Lithium Ion Manganese Oxide (LMO):
- LMO batteries are considered safe for grid storage.
- They provide moderate energy density and good cycle life.
- While not as common as LFP, they exhibit reliable safety characteristics2.
-
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC):
- NMC batteries strike a balance between energy density and safety.
- Widely used in electric vehicles and grid storage, NMC cells have a positive safety record.
- Their higher energy density compared to LFP makes them suitable for various applications2.
In summary, both LFP and NMC are safe choices for grid-scale energy storage, with LFP having a slightly better safety reputation.Â
However, it’s essential to consider other factors such as cost, performance, and specific project requirements when making a decision23.
2Â solarreviews.com
3Â ecolithiumbattery.com
4Â pv-tech.org
5Â sandia.gov
6 cleantechnica.com
7Â electrive.com
Good luck with this.Â
Best Regards,
Nathaniel (Skip) Short
sethhead@comcast.netÂ
@Sean Dague Instead of trying to convince with facts (which can be tough in today's political climate), how about trying to shift the responsibility for the decision making to the experts?Â
I'm sure the Fire Department has a more fact-based opinion on the fire safety, and I'm guessing the building department has rules that need to be followed.
If the Fire Department says OK, and the building department's rules are followed, perhaps you could convince the Town Board to approve, based on their colleague's expertise?Â
Â
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