Is mobile energy storage safe

Altogether, like other electric grid infrastructure, energy storage systems are highly regulated and there are established safety designs, features, and practices proven to eliminate risks to operators, firefighters, and the broader community.

FACTS: No deaths have resulted from energy storage facilities in the United States. Battery energy storage facilities are very different from consumer electronics, with secure, highly regulated electric infrastructure that use robust codes and standards to guide and maintain safety.

An energy storage system contains a large amount of energy stored in a small space, which may make it the target for those who look to cause harm. For this reason, a deployed mobile energy storage system is required to be provided with a fence with a locked gate that keeps the public at least 5 ft (1.5 m) away from the ESS.

Battery energy storage facilities are very different from consumer electronics, with secure, highly regulated electric infrastructure that use robust codes and standards to guide and maintain safety. E-mobility devices have been lightly regulated in the past, and some products have used poor-quality battery cells and ineffective safety systems.

Mobile energy storage systems are being deployed in jurisdictions around the world, and—as demonstrated by a 2023 New Year's Day mobile energy storage system fire —accidents can happen. We want to make sure communities are prepared for when these systems are deployed in their backyard.

Compared with traditional energy storage technologies, mobile energy storage technologies have the merits of low cost and high energy conversion efficiency, can be flexibly located, and cover a large range from miniature to large systems and from high to high power density, although most of them still face challenges or technical bottlenecks.