A recent report has found that the majority of battery energy storage system (BESS) failures could be avoided with robust quality assurance and battery monitoring practices. The study, conducted by TWAICE, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), offers critical insights into the root causes of BESS failures and underscores the importance of comprehensive system analysis.

The report, which analyzes data from EPRI’s BESS Failure Event Database, identified 81 failure incidents, of which 26 had sufficient information to determine root causes. The collaborative effort by TWAICE, EPRI, and PNNL engineers revealed that most failures were linked to issues in the integration and operation stages rather than defects in the battery cells or modules themselves.

“Understanding the reasons behind battery storage failures is critical for preventing them, which is why we’re pleased to help create the first-ever public analysis of BESS incidents by cause,” said Ryan Franks, Senior Engineer at TWAICE. “The report emphasizes the importance of battery analytics, with most of the failures traced to the integration and operation stages. We believe this new resource will help guide further development of analytics software that can ensure BESS safety. We’re honored to support EPRI in the publication of this report and thankful for the collaboration of their engineers and those from PNNL.”

Key Findings:

• Of the 81 failure events recorded, only three were attributed to cell or module defects.
• The majority of failures were related to errors during the design, integration, and operational stages of BESS units.
• Improved quality assurance and battery monitoring can significantly reduce the risk of failures.

The findings from this report highlight the need for tools that enhance commissioning and operational analysis of BESS. By focusing on the integration and operation stages, operators can prevent potential failures and ensure the long-term safety and efficiency of battery storage systems.

This study is part of a broader effort to improve the reliability and performance of BESS installations. As the demand for energy storage solutions grows, especially with the increasing integration of renewable energy sources, ensuring the dependability of these systems becomes paramount.

 The report has been welcomed by industry experts who see it as a crucial step toward advancing BESS technology. With the growing deployment of battery storage projects, such as Powin's 88 MW/387 MWh project in California, the insights from this report will be invaluable in guiding future developments and operational strategies.

Source: renewableenergyworld.com