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As battery energy storage systems, or BESS, become more common across Texas, it is natural for communities to have questions about safety, especially fire risk. These are reasonable concerns. The good news is that modern battery storage facilities are designed with multiple layers of protection that make fires extremely rare and quickly contained when they do occur.
A battery energy storage system stores electricity for later use, similar to the battery in a phone or car but on a much larger scale. When the Texas grid has more power than it needs, such as during windy nights in West Texas or sunny afternoons across the state, batteries charge. When demand spikes during extreme heat, storms, or unexpected outages, they discharge stored energy back to the grid to help keep homes, businesses, and critical services powered.
Battery storage systems can respond in milliseconds to seconds, far faster than traditional power plants. This rapid response is particularly important in Texas, where electricity demand can climb quickly during heat waves and where the ERCOT grid must balance supply and demand in real time. By responding almost instantly, batteries help stabilize grid frequency and reduce the risk of outages before customers ever notice a problem.
Texas now has one of the largest and fastest growing fleets of utility scale battery storage facilities in the country. According to analysis of ERCOT data, battery storage capacity on the Texas grid has increased by more than forty fold since 2020, growing from a small, limited resource into several gigawatts of installed capacity in just a few years. Batteries are now a routine part of grid operations across the state.
Despite this scale and rapid growth, documented fire incidents remain extremely rare. Across the United States and globally, fire events represent well under one percent of installed utility scale battery systems. When incidents do occur, they are typically isolated to a single enclosure and do not spread to neighboring units.
Battery storage plays a critical role in keeping the Texas electric grid reliable during extreme heat, severe storms, and nighttime hours when solar generation is not producing. These systems help manage sudden spikes in demand and provide backup support when other resources unexpectedly go offline.
Communities that host battery storage facilities are supporting a more resilient electric system using infrastructure that is designed to meet some of the strictest safety requirements in the energy sector.
Sources:
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64705
https://www.ul.com/services/ul-9540a-test-method
https://www.globalpwr.com/blog/understanding-nfpa-855-fire-protection-standard-for-energy-storage-systems/
https://cleanpower.org/resources/energy-storage-codes-standards/
https://poweralliance.org/2024/11/20/no-energy-storage-fires-are-not-increasing/
https://www.rabobank.com/knowledge/d011484585-texas-a-high-stakes-frontier-for-us-battery-energy-storage-systems
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When communities hear about new battery storage projects, a common question is whether they could leak hazardous materials into groundwater. That concern is understandable, especially in rural areas where wells, farms, and soil health matter.
At their core, large battery systems store energy for when it is needed most. Unlike consumer devices, they are housed in reinforced containers with temperature controls, ventilation, and fire-suppression systems designed to prevent problems before they start.
