California Faces Setback as Fire Hits World’s Largest Battery Storage Facility
A devastating fire at the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in California has resulted in significant energy storage loss and environmental concerns. The blaze destroyed 300 megawatts of energy storage, temporarily displacing 1,200 residents, and released potentially harmful smoke, raising questions about safety in the burgeoning battery storage industry.
The fire ignited on the afternoon of January 16, engulfing a building filled with lithium batteries. Despite the severity, other facilities on-site, including additional battery storage and a natural gas plant, remained unaffected. By the next morning, officials had reported only minor flames and smoke still present, though the situation flared up again later that day.
Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church emphasized the incident as a critical alert for the industry, stating, “This is really a lot more than a fire, it’s a wake-up call for this industry.” The need for safer battery systems is paramount as California continues its push towards sustainable energy.
Due to the hazardous nature of lithium fires, known to emit toxic substances like hydrogen fluoride, firefighters opted to let the fire burn out naturally. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and air monitoring systems did not detect hydrogen fluoride. Nonetheless, the smoke likely contained harmful metals and PFAS, known as forever chemicals, according to Dustin Mulvaney from San Jose State University.
Residents were advised to remain indoors to avoid inhaling these substances, which could pose health risks. Wildlife, including sea otters in the nearby Elkhorn Slough salt marsh, could also be affected.
Vistra Energy, the Texas-based company owning the damaged facility, has experienced other battery incidents, albeit less severe. Despite the presence of a water-based suppression system, the cause of this failure is still under investigation.
On a global scale, utility-scale battery system failures have decreased by 97% from 2018 to 2023, thanks to improved safety measures. However, Maria Chavez from the Union of Concerned Scientists noted that incidents like these can still happen despite advancements.
California’s preparedness for such events, supported by state laws requiring emergency response plans, could be pivotal in mitigating future risks. However, the impact on Vistra Energy’s capacity is significant, with the loss of the 300-megawatt facility affecting both the company and California’s 13,300-megawatt total energy storage capacity.
As California rebuilds, including efforts following the recent Los Angeles wildfires, restoring the Moss Landing facility’s capacity could be a prolonged process. Mulvaney stressed the importance of preventing such incidents in the future, stating, “We can’t have battery fires like this. We can’t lose 300 megawatts of batteries overnight like this.”
Original Story at www.newscientist.com