Dave Roberts, UK MD at GivEnergy, explains why LiFePO4 battery chemistry can help allay recent fears surrounding home battery fires.
Consumers are increasingly opting for home batteries as a means of cutting their electricity bills and carbon emissions. Whether as a standalone system or coupled with renewable technology, home battery storage is becoming increasingly practical and affordable.
Now, with this rise of home batteries, scrutiny of relevant fire safety measures is also on the rise.
Home batteries hit the headlines
Several recent incidents in Australia have put home battery fires under the spotlight.
According to 9News network, solar storage battery fires have been linked to at least 13 cases of property damage in the country. This includes the destruction of a house in the state of Victoria. In response, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has proposed a compulsory recall of the battery models responsible.
Elsewhere, the media has been awash with reports of ‘lithium-ion battery fires’ (sometimes labelled interchangeably as ‘lithium battery fires’). In this respect, the incidents in Australia feel like a continuation of this trend.
It’s important to note that these ‘lithium battery fires’ are more often than not connected to smaller devices. Think smartphones, laptops, electric scooters, etc. – all of which use lithium-ion batteries.
A report by the UK government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy acknowledges this link. It states that “most available fire statistics for lithium-ion batteries are related to smaller portable products”.
For home battery storage systems, meanwhile, the same report acknowledges the lack of specific statistics. It states that concern about fire safety is simply based on “the large energy content within (home battery) systems”.
With all of this taken into consideration, it’s understandable that members of the public may have concerns about fire safety regarding home batteries. There are valid reasons, however, to feel reassured.
Moving towards safer chemistry
Often omitted in media reports on ‘lithium battery fires’ is the fact that ‘lithium-ion’ can refer to several different types of battery chemistry.
Two of the main types of li-on battery found on the market include nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4).
NMC chemistry was used in the solar storage batteries responsible for the aforementioned incidents in Australia. In fact, it’s almost exclusively the cause of ‘lithium battery fires’ in small devices, too.
On the other hand, LiFePO4 batteries are proven to be less prone to thermal runaway, reducing the risk of fire. Compared to its NMC counterpart, LiFePO4 cell technology boasts exceptional safety, an extended lifespan, enhanced performance in extreme conditions, environmental friendliness, and high power density.
The good news is that LiFePO4 cell technology is increasingly the choice for home battery storage systems. Globally, the proportion of NMC batteries in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and consumer electronics was 51% in 2022, compared with 26% for LiFePO4.
By 2033, the proportion of NMC batteries is forecast to decline to 43%. Meanwhile, the same figure for LiFePO4 batteries is set to rise to 48%, according to research from Fastmarkets.
Recent changes to installation guidelines
Recent focus on home battery fire safety in the UK concerns changes to guidelines on loft installations.
The British Standards Institute (BSI) recently published PAS 63100: 2024. In section 6.5.5, it states that batteries shall not be installed in “voids, roof spaces, or lofts”. Reasons for avoiding installations of home batteries in lofts can include, among other things:
• Poor ventilation and airflow,
• The presence of flammable insulation in older lofts.
Where users tend to install home battery storage depends on their individual circumstances. For those installing battery storage units in properties with limited space, the loft space may be the only feasible option. A fire-safe future for home batteries Given the shift to LiFePO4 in home battery storage, we believe it’s feasible that PAS63100:2024 may alter the guidelines with relation to loft installations. This will come as a relief to homeowners who want to invest in home battery storage, but don’t have the necessary space outdoors.
In the meantime, it’s the responsibility of those working in the battery storage industry to ensure consistent messaging around fire safety.
In part, this involves clarifying the necessary safety measures users of home batteries should take. This includes ensuring batteries are professionally installed and fitted in well-ventilated areas, for instance.
It also involves getting the message out around the enhanced safety of LiFePO4 batteries. Simply put, based on the available numbers here in the UK, battery fire risk (especially home battery fire risk) isn’t something anyone should need to lose sleep over.
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