IEC has recently published IEC 63056 (see Table A 13) to cover specific lithium-ion battery risks for electric energy storage systems. It includes safety requirements for lithium-ion batteries used in these systems under the assumption that the battery has been tested according to BS EN 62619.
Despite a limited number of known incidents with domestic battery energy storage systems (BESSs) in the public domain, questions have been raised regarding their safety due to the large energy content within these systems.
There is limited experience with fires involving domestic lithium-ion battery storage systems. However, with the worldwide growth of EV and BESS applications, it is important to improve our understanding of how large battery systems behave when abused.
Short answer: yes. Domestic battery storage without renewables can still benefit you and the grid. This is especially true for those on smart tariffs; charge your battery during cheaper off-peak hours and discharge during more expensive peak hours, cutting your bills and reducing strain on the grid during peak energy use times.
Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) use batteries, for example lithium-ion batteries, to store electricity at times when supply is higher than demand. They can then later release electricity when it is needed. BESSs are therefore important for “the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy”.
The main critical component in a domestic battery energy storage system (BESS), and the component that is hazardous due to being lithium-ion cells themselves, must be kept within the manufacturer’s specifications for the operating window regarding current, temperature and voltage.