While LA County in California has among the highest concentrations of battery storage projects in the US, this should not disguise the fact that the vast majority of local residents believe more could be done to make the technology safer.
Eight out of ten residents in California’s LA County – which has one of the highest concentrations of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the US – would be more supportive of such projects if extra steps were taken to mitigate fire risk, a new study has found. Research by Firetrace International showed that 82% of LA County residents would be more likely to support BESS projects in their area if they included advanced fire suppression systems and emergency response plans.
California is the US state that has been most receptive to the idea of deploying utility-scale battery storage. Data shows that, as of 2023, the state had more than 8GW of installed cumulative capacity of large-scale battery storage systems in operation, more than any other state. This total was more than twice the amount deployed in the second-ranked state Texas, which had just over 3.8GW. Of all the counties in California, LA County has one of the highest instances of BESS deployment and is home to some major projects, such as Southern California Edison Company’s 200MW Cathode (Hinson) BESS.
Health and safety risks ‘biggest barrier to BESS acceptance’
Yet despite strong support for BESS among LA County residents – the Firetrace survey showed that only 12% of locals opposed battery storage – there is still considerable concern about potential threats to health and safety posed by such projects. Nearly half (42%) of LA County residents said concern about health and safety risks was the “biggest barrier to public acceptance” of BESS projects. Meanwhile, one in four locals (26%) said their primary concern about such projects was “potential toxic leaks or hazardous materials”.
It is clear that popular support for BESS projects and the benefits they bring – such as cheaper electricity bills (cited by 28 per cent of LA County residents) and reductions in carbon emissions and air pollution (28 per cent) – should not mask the fact that the public do have concerns about the safety of BESS. Almost all residents of LA County (94%) felt that more could be done to improve the safety of BESS sites in their community. One in three (34%) residents thought safety could be improved by “regular inspections and testing”, while approximately one in four (24%) felt sites would be safer if they included “fire suppression and battery monitoring technologies”. Furthermore, 18 per cent believed “comprehensive emergency response plans” would make BESS sites in LA County less of a threat to the public’s safety.
BESS owners and operators advised to conduct fire risk assessments
The study demonstrates that it is vital that the energy storage industry does more to alleviate local communities’ concerns about fire risk if it is to retain public support for BESS projects. To this end, it is advised that energy storage project owners and operators conduct fire risk assessments and introduce measures to mitigate fire risks.
With the rate of energy storage deployment in the US increasing, at a cost running to billions of dollars, storage manufacturers, developers and owners need to act quickly and ensure all the necessary precautions are taken to protect energy storage assets from fire risk. A vital component of any effective battery storage fire protection strategy is a fire suppression system.
Energy storage developers and owners are advised to consult with fire suppression experts to gain an understanding of the extent of the fire risks they face and what steps they can take to protect their energy storage assets.
It is also important to consider the inclusion of a battery management system, which monitors, controls, and optimizes performance of individual or multiple battery modules, and can also control the disconnection of the modules from the system in the event of abnormal conditions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joe DeBellis serves as the Global Head of Clean Energy at Firetrace International, bringing more than a decade of experience in the renewable energy sector. With a deep understanding of both clean energy innovation and fire safety, Joe is recognized as a trusted industry voice on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of the sector.
A frequent speaker and thought leader, Joe has presented at major industry events, including ACP’s Clean Power, where he has shared insights on advancing safety and reliability within renewable energy assets. His expertise has also been featured across multiple publications and media platforms, most recently on the Clean Power Hour podcast and in leading clean energy news outlets.
Known for his ability to connect technical expertise with practical solutions, Joe continues to serve as a reliable resource for organizations navigating the evolving renewable energy landscape, with a particular focus on ensuring safe and sustainable growth.