ENE/General/TBT-ENE-005

Battery Energy Storage Safety

Energy & Renewables › General › Battery Energy Storage Safety

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Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are increasingly common on construction and renewable sites.
Lithium-ion batteries present risks of thermal runaway — an uncontrolled self-heating reaction.
Thermal runaway produces toxic gases including hydrogen fluoride, which is lethal at low levels.
Electrical hazards include high DC voltages that cannot be switched off — batteries are always live.
Fire in a BESS container can re-ignite hours or days after the initial event was controlled.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and DSEAR 2002 apply to battery storage installations.
Emergency response plans specific to BESS must be developed before commissioning.
Only competent persons trained in high-voltage DC should work on battery installations.
Ventilation systems in battery enclosures prevent accumulation of explosive hydrogen gas.
Installation work near BESS requires awareness of arc flash risks from DC circuits.

Toxic gas risk	Thermal runaway releases hydrogen fluoride and other gases that kill rapidly.
Fire danger	Battery fires are extremely difficult to extinguish and can reignite for days.
Electrical shock	High-voltage DC systems cannot be isolated like AC — batteries remain energised.
Legal compliance	DSEAR and Electricity at Work Regulations require specific controls for BESS.

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See also: Renewable Energy Safety Awareness | Arc Flash Awareness

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