Are lithium-ion batteries in energy storage systems reliable?
05 Dec 2022
The most common type of battery used in energy storage systems is Lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion
batteries allow you to take electricity generated by the grid, solar panels, wind turbines, or any
combination and store it for use when you need it most. However, not all
lithium-ion batteries are the same when it comes to reliability and safety.
Even though they are referred to generically as one class
of battery, ‘lithium ion’, they can differ significantly in chemistry, cell
form-factor, and construction, which can impact their performance dramatically.
Learn more about the chemistry of lithium-ion batteries:
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Lithium-ion chemistry: Lithium-ion batteries have a lot of
advantages over their lead-acid counterparts. They are lighter, more
efficient, charge faster, and have a longer lifespan.
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Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery (LFP): In the
energy storage system industry, LFP lithium-ion chemistry is often
considered more cost-effective, longer-lasting, and much less prone to
thermal runaway than other battery chemistries.
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Thermal Runaway: Thermal runaway begins when the heat
generated within a battery exceeds the amount of heat that is dissipated
to its surroundings.
It is a thermal runaway that causes overheating, fires, and explosions
that are associated with lithium-ion batteries in the market today.
Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) chemistry reduces the risk of thermal
runaway with fire propagation, operating temperature constraints, and
toxic coolants.
While LFP batteries are non-toxic, they can still go into thermal runaway.
However, their thermal runaway threshold is much higher but still a very
attainable 375 deg F compared to 300 deg F.
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UL9540 Certification: UL 9540 is the most stringent safety
standard for battery energy storage systems installed in homes and
businesses. UL 9540 takes the guesswork out of understanding system safety
and ensures that energy storage devices meet certification requirements
specified in building and fire codes. It also provides assurance to
customers that their batteries and balance-of-system equipment will
perform and not create hazards.
Customers are encouraged to ask any system installer or vendor if their
proposed solution is UL 9540 certified – and request a solution that is
approved for its safety and performance.
If you have any requirements or any kind of query
regarding the Energy storage solutions for your desired
applications, feel free to communicate with our dedicated team at any time
at marketing@everexceed.com.