World's first all open-door large-scale fire test of 5MWh battery system completed

Yahoo

15 hours ago

A Chinese energy storage technology firm has completed the world's first all-open-door large-scale fire test of its ∞Block 5MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The test conducted on Hithium energy storage device offers a high-stakes technical model to inform future product safety standards and set a validation benchmark in this sector.Hithium revealed that as thermal runaway and other safety incidents in BESS draw increasing concern, more rigorous and standardized safety testing is urgently needed.
The open-door fire test was developed to meet this requirement—featuring four ultimate test challenges that are all open-door combustion, dual 15cm extreme spacing, fire suppression system deactivated, and 100% State of Charge (SOC).The test strictly adhered to UL 9540A, NFPA 855 safety standards and was conducted by UL Solutions, a globally recognized safety certification authority, and witnessed by certified U.S. fire protection engineers and customers.
The system structure remained intact, with no fire propagation to any of the three adjacent containers despite undergoing 15 hours of full combustion. This result validates Hithium's multi-layered passive safety architecture and thermal isolation capabilities, even under the most extreme conditions, according to a press release.Hithium revealed that during all open-door combustion, the container doors remained fully open throughout the test, creating an unrestrained combustion environment with intensified oxygen flow—far more severe than traditional closed-door scenarios.During the dual 15cm extreme spacing test, the BESS were placed side by side and back to back with just 15cm spacing. Despite flames over 1300°C, no thermal propagation occurred, proving effective close-range isolation.
In one of the tests, all fire suppression systems were deactivated. The system relied solely on passive fire protection to withstand prolonged intense fire, demonstrating autonomous fire resistance and reliability.The BESS was tested at full capacity to maximize thermal energy release, validating the system's reliability and stability under the harshest conditions.
Hithium stressed that the latest achievement highlights HiTHIUM's commitment to innovation and quality, providing valuable insights for future safety standards in the industry.
"Moving forward, Hithium will continue to advance safety performance through technology leadership and global collaboration, driving the industry toward a safer and more reliable future," said the company in a statement.
Industry experts hailed the trial as a 'qualitative leap' in energy storage fire safety testing, significantly increasing difficulty across fire dynamics, spatial constraints, charge state, and response conditions. The results not only enhance the credibility of safety claims but offer a replicable framework for establishing more practical, real-world safety benchmarks, reported PV Magazine.
Hithium ranked 4th globally in energy storage battery shipments in 2024, delivering 35.1 GWh, according to Infolink's latest market data.