Solar & battery storage will constitute 81% of new US electricity generating capacity in 2024, but concerns are increasing about failure to assess associated fire risk.
Texas and California will account for the majority of new battery storage installations as North American battery supply chains secure billions in new commitments – with investment soaring, asset owners must protect against fire risk.
The Golden State has more energy storage installed than any other part of the US, but recent fire events led to California’s energy policy and planning agency saying such incidents have to stop.
A database detailing utility and commercial & industrial-scale energy storage failures over a 12-year period shows that California and New York are the US states that have experienced the most storage fires.
Growing fears about energy storage-related fires and explosions are threatening to derail the US\' plans for the transition to renewable energy – now is the time for the storage sector to step up its efforts to address fire risk.
