Battery Energy Storage Systems: Main Considerations for Safe Installation and Incident Response

Battery Energy Storage Systems, or BESS, help stabilize electrical grids by providing steady power flow despite fluctuations from inconsistent generation of renewable energy sources and other disruptions. While BESS technology is designed to bolster grid reliability, lithium battery fires at some installations have raised legitimate safety concerns in many communities. 

 BESS incidents can present unique challenges for host communities and first responders: 

•  Fire Suppression: Lithium battery fires are extremely difficult to extinguish and may reignite hours or days later. 

•  Emissions: Battery fires can release harmful gases that pose health risks to nearby residents and first responders. 

•  Environmental Impact: Proper cleanup and disposal of damaged batteries requires specialized procedures. 

EPA has developed comprehensive guidance to help communities safely plan for installation and operation of BESS facilities as well as recommendations for incident response. This webpage includes information from first responder and industry guidance as well as background information on battery energy storage systems and resources.  Access this webpage information in a printable format (pdf) (515.29 KB) .

Battery Energy Storage Systems Overview

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. BESS fires pose challenges to first responders due to the:

• Difficulty in putting out lithium-ion battery fires.
• Potential health impacts from emissions.
• Need to clean up and properly dispose of burned or impacted batteries.

Communities should consult BESS safety experts when considering and designing installations. Communities should also note that despite some high-profile incidents, improvements in BESS quality and design have led to a decrease in the number of failure incidents per gigawatt hour deployed.

In recent years, first responder and industry associations have developed guidance to help communities identify focus areas when planning a BESS, including how to work with local responders to improve incident preparedness. This document is a non-comprehensive collection of existing research and guidance.

Facts about Recent Fires

Since 2020, BESS failure incidents have decreased, but some recent fires have gained attention in the media. 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. Following the incident, EPA has required the Gateway facility to conduct extensive environmental monitoring during battery handling and disposal operations and submit detailed work plans and progress reports.

On January 16, 2025, a BESS fire broke out at the Moss Landing site in Monterey County, California, resulting in a 24-hour evacuation of about 1,200 residents. A joint effort among company personnel and the North County Fire Department kept the fire contained to one building, though with one notable flare-up. Air quality monitoring and sampling occurred during and after the fire and found no risks to public health. Following the incident, EPA continues to work with other regulators to ensure the safe storage, handling, and transportation of undamaged batteries remaining at the Moss Landing site. 

Clear and comprehensive incident response plans are critical when managing BESS sites to ensure preparedness in the event of a battery fire.

Installation Considerations

Proactive safety measures can be included in a BESS site design to minimize the risk of a BESS fire. Consider the following before installing a BESS:

• Comply with state and local siting, zoning, marking, and permitting requirements to ensure site suitability.
• Consider the design of BESS units (battery chemistry, manufacturing quality assurance/quality checks, unit design, battery management system analytic capabilities, and system integration) and consult the most recent industry safety standards.
• Include remote sensors and monitoring (e.g., infrared, thermal, fire detection).
• Communicate with local first responders to develop emergency response plans for incidents.

Incident Response Considerations

Consider the following when developing an incident response plan for BESS:

• Ensure use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including self-contained breathing apparatuses to protect against hazardous air emissions.
• Set an isolation zone for large commercial BESS that is at least 330 feet, depending on the site.
• Position responders upwind and uphill.
• Evaluate the need for community shelter-in-place or evacuation, depending on the incident and site.
• Current guidance is to focus the response on preventing the spread of fire.
  • Direct fire crews to let the fire burn itself out and to use water to prevent the spread of fire to neighboring batteries or other structures. Research is ongoing into the most effective method of water application to prevent spread.
• Assess hazardous air emissions:
  • Use modeling to guide on-site decision making and initially monitor for hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen chloride.
  • As an incident extends, sample air for metals and other combustion byproducts of burning plastics.
• Minimize, contain, and/or redirect runoff from water application, to the extent possible.
• Package contents safely for transport and disposal after the event, considering Department of Transportation and EPA requirements.

Resources for Fire Planning and Response at BESS Installations

In addition to adhering to existing standards, communities and operators of BESS sites should reference existing resources to enhance fire preparedness and response plans. The table below includes a list of trainings, standard operating procedure (SOP) guides, toolkits, emergency response plans, and research for BESS sites.

Additional Resources for BESS Sites