Multidimensional analysis of fire accidents in electrochemical energy storage stations and current status of fire safety

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.0507

Abstract

Abstract:

In recent years, frequent fire accidents at electrochemical energy storage stations have drawn widespread attention to their safe operation. To systematically identify accident characteristics, clarify causative factors, and assess the current state of fire protection systems, this study adopts a combined approach of statistical analysis and questionnaire surveys. Based on 102 representative fire incidents worldwide between 2016 and 2025, statistical analyses were conducted across dimensions such as country of occurrence, temporal distribution, battery type, operational status, and root causes. The results show that incidents are concentrated in specific time periods and regions, with high occurrence during operation and maintenance phases. Notably, 2018 and 2023 were peak years; South Korea accounted for the highest proportion of cases, and 80.8% of accidents occurred during operation and maintenance. Incidents involving ternary lithium batteries consistently outnumbered those involving lithium iron phosphate batteries, though the latter showed an annual increase. Battery failure (21.2%) and system defects (54.5%) were identified as the main causes. Field investigations at 18 electrochemical energy storage stations in Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Hebei, Guizhou, and Shandong provinces in China indicate that fire protection systems are predominantly designed by engineering procurement construction contractors in accordance with national standards, yet investment in fire safety remains insufficient. A total of 77.78% of the stations used heptafluoropropane as the extinguishing agent, and some were located more than 60 minutes from the nearest fire brigade. Furthermore, 22.22% of the stations had not filed emergency response plans, and 38.89% lacked dedicated or part-time firefighting teams, revealing significant weaknesses in emergency preparedness mechanisms.

Key words: electrochemical energy storage station, fire accidents, statistical analysis, questionnaire survey, fire safety

CLC Number:

X 932

Qingyu ZHOU, Guowei ZHANG, Libin YANG, Hao QI. Multidimensional analysis of fire accidents in electrochemical energy storage stations and current status of fire safety[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2025, 14(11): 4254-4263.

Figures/Tables 12

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