Accident occurred in an energy storage complex in Australia, where 210 large batteries of the American brand are located
Tesla is once again targeted in a fire with electric batteries, although the most recent episode is not related to a battery mounted in one of his cars, but rather to a large battery installed in an energy storage complex.
The fire occurred in the beginning of August at the Victorian Big Battery complex, located in southeastern Australia, having deflagrated in one of the 210 Tesla Megapack batteries that make up the system, which will have an energy supply capacity of 450 MWh, intended for industry and domestic use.
The incident mobilized more than 150 operatives and did not cause any casualties, but it raised questions about the safety of the batteries, especially the lithium-ion ones, although there is no information about the t cell type used by Tesla in this project. While awaiting definitive conclusions about the inspections carried out following the fire, there is the expectation that this occurrence may determine how complexes similar to the Victorian Big Battery will be designed and built.
According to the reported by CNBC, Paul Christensen, professor of electrochemistry at the University of Newcastle, England, recalled that lithium-ion battery technology is relatively new and that, therefore, there is not enough information on the safety of large storage systems. energy, nor on what improvements are possible. However, the specialist puts some brakes on the general concern, recalling that “ given the number of lithium-ion batteries on the planet, the number of cases that result in fires and explosions of all kinds is still very small “. For Christensen, quoted by the aforementioned source, “
when something happens with an electric vehicle or with a large energy storage facility becomes big news. And it can cause disproportionate concern”. PUBAccording to research carried out by the university professor, about 40 fires are known in large-scale lithium-ion battery energy storage systems. These incidents, most of which took place in the last three years, occurred from 2012 onwards.
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