A safer energy future depends on smarter storage: Why we need a holistic approach to battery energy storage system fire safety

As Europe moves closer to its carbon-neutral future, BESS are becoming more essential than ever. They bridge the gap between variable renewable energy generation and grid stability. But with this growing responsibility comes an undeniable
challenge: keeping BESS safe.

Ensuring safety isn’t just a box to tick – it’s a priority to protect people, safeguard the environment, and ensure public trust. That’s why the newly released “EASE Guidelines on Safety Best Practices for Battery Energy Storage Systems” are so important. They offer a clear and practical overview of the technical, regulatory, and operational requirements to make utility-scale lithium-ion BESS safe.

The guidelines, developed with input from experts, researchers, and national associations, go beyond mere compliance checklists. They focus on what works – drawing from proven practices and real-world experience, especially from countries like the United States, where large-scale fire testing has been extensively implemented.

A fundamental principle

Safety can’t just be an afterthought when designing BESS. It has to be an integral part of a system from the start. Whether it’s the battery management system (BMS), thermal management, or enclosure design, each component must work together to handle worst-case scenarios.

That’s why the EASE guidelines put a strong emphasis on hazard mitigation analysis and large-scale fire testing. These assessments are not just theoretical – they’re crucial for understanding how a specific BESS setup will behave in real conditions, especially in critical events like thermal runaway or explosions. The guidelines also make it clear that regulatory frameworks should be flexible enough to accommodate different fire safety strategies – whether that’s controlled burning, dry pipe suppression, or explosion venting. What matters is that the chosen approach is validated through comprehensive fire testing, including the latest edition of the UL [Underwriters Laboratory] 9540A standard and the upcoming NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] 855 (2026).

Ensuring safe firefighter response

One of the key safety considerations highlighted in the guidelines is the approach to dealing with thermal runaway events. Although first responders can use water to help prevent BESS-to-BESS fire propagation, they should not open BESS enclosures to actively fight a thermal runaway once it has initiated within a battery cell. Opening a burning container can increase the risk of explosions, put first responders at risk, and may not effectively prevent reignition.

Fire suppression strategies should always be risk-based, grounded in data from rigorous testing, and aligned with established safety protocols.

First responders need data

Safety training is essential but it’s not enough on its own. Firefighters and emergency teams need real-time data – temperatures, gas levels, and system status – to make informed decisions. They need remote monitoring, early warning signals, and above all, detailed emergency response guides created in partnership with manufacturers and developers.

The EASE guidelines call for improved system integration to ensure early anomaly detection via the BMS and alarm systems. Decisions on fire suppression shouldn’t rely solely on what can be seen or guessed – predictive diagnostics and automated alerts are key to keeping responders safe and informed.

Balancing safety with innovation

Innovation shouldn’t be stifled by overly cautious or rigid regulations. The goal should be performance-based standards, allowing for flexibility as long as the chosen safety measures meet risk mitigation criteria. If a manufacturer can demonstrate that a new enclosure design or suppression system is effective, it should be recognized as compliant.

This mindset is crucial as the Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 takes effect. As Europe develops harmonized safety standards through CENELEC [the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization], it’s vital to ensure that innovation and safety go hand in hand.

Why transparency matters

One of the biggest challenges in the BESS sector is the lack of transparency around safety incidents. While the Electric Power Research Institute reports a 97% decrease in failure rates from 2018 to 2023, the underlying data is sparse. Publicly accessible root cause analyses are available for less than a third of known incidents. This lack of information makes it hard to build public trust and improve safety practices and a 3% failure rate is huge in this industry.

We need a change. Regulators and industry players should establish a centralized reporting system for BESS incidents. Sharing lessons from both failures and near-misses is not about admitting fault – it’s about promoting a culture of collective safety and continuous improvement.

Building a safer future

The EASE guidelines are designed to be living documents – they will evolve as technology advances and new risks emerge. So we can already predict that they will be amended, given the upcoming update of the NFPA 855 in 2026 – which will focus even more on large scale fire testing.

The goal is not to impose regulatory burdens but rather, to offer a clear blueprint for safer deployment.

For policymakers drafting legislation, manufacturers refining products, and emergency responders preparing for the unexpected: safety is everyone’s responsibility. At EASE, we believe that with the right strategies and a commitment to transparency, we can scale up energy storage safely and effectively – without compromising innovation.

Let’s lead the energy transition not only by increasing BESS capacity but by ensuring every deployment is safe, sustainable, and resilient.

About the author:

Carolina Cruz is a junior policy officer in the policy team at the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE).