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BESS Bushfire Risk

Keywords: Bushfire risk, Resilience in substations, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Thermal runaway, Fire propagation, Asset vulnerability, Radiant heat, Ember attack, Toxic emissions, Environmental hazards, Bushfire planning, Fire protection measures, Asset Protection Zones (APZs), Fire-resistant enclosures, Early detection and suppression, Defensive firefighting strategies, Grid stability, Renewable energy transition

Introduction

As Australia accelerates its transition to renewable energy, the deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and related high-voltage power infrastructure including substations has expanded rapidly—often in remote or bushfire-prone regions. These critical assets are essential for grid stability, but their exposure to bushfire hazards presents unique fire safety challenges. This article explores the bushfire risks associated with wand BESS installations and related high-voltage substations, recent developments in fire safety planning, and engineering strategies to enhance infrastructure resilience.

What are the risks?

Thermal Runaway and Fire Propagation: BESS units, particularly those using Lithium-ion Battery (LiB) technology, are susceptible to thermal runaway—a chain reaction that can lead to fire or explosion. In bushfire-prone areas, external heat or ember attack can trigger or exacerbate these events.

Asset Vulnerability: Substations and BESS are often located near vegetation corridors or in rural zones with limited firefighting access. Key fire risks include:

  • Ignition from external bushfires;
  • Internal electrical faults leading to fire;
  • Limited passive fire protection; and
  • Limited emergency response infrastructure due to remote location.

Radiant Heat and Ember Attack: Bushfires can generate radiant heat fluxes exceeding 12.5 kW/m², capable of degrading insulation, warping enclosures, exposing electrical infrastructure to incident thermal radiation and igniting combustible materials. Even without direct flame contact, embers can infiltrate vents, cable trays, or oil bunds, initiating internal fires. This is especially critical for substations with exposed infrastructure. All BESS containers are equipped with ventilation systems for cooling.

Toxic Emissions and Environmental Hazards: When BESS units ignite—especially LiB systems—they can release toxic gases such as Hydrogen Fluoride (HF), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These emissions pose risks to personnel, nearby communities, and ecosystems, particularly in rural or protected conservation zones.

Bushfire Planning and Protection Measures

To mitigate these bushfire risks, design teams apply a combination of prescriptive and performance-based strategies:

  • Asset Protection Zones (APZs): Establishing vegetation-free buffers around substations and BESS sites to reduce flame contact and radiant heat exposure.
  • Fire-Resistant Enclosures: Use of non-combustible materials and thermal barriers to protect sensitive equipment.
  • Early Detection and Suppression: Integration of thermal sensors, gas detection, process and automatic fire suppression systems and process control within BESS containers.
  • Access and Egress: Designing access roads and turning areas in accordance with Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 Table 6.8b to ensure fire crews can respond effectively.

Emerging Trends and Failures

Global Incident Trends Despite improvements in design and regulation, BESS failures continue to occur globally. According to recent data, 10–15 incidents are reported annually, often involving LiB systems. These failures range from thermal runaway events to Hydrogen explosions in Lead-acid battery systems [1]. Notably, a fire near Lake Ontario in 2023 burned for four days, requiring a robotic intervention to safely access the container [1]. Such events underscore the need for remote monitoring, non-invasive suppression, and firefighter training tailored to energy storage hazards.

Defensive Firefighting Strategies Australian projects are increasingly adopting defensive firefighting postures, especially in remote or low-risk environments. BESS containers are allowed to burn out under supervision, rather than be actively suppressed in combination with exposure cooling of adjoining containers [2]. This aligns with NFPA 855:2023 guidelines and reflects a shift toward risk-based response models.

Conclusion

As grid scale BESS yards and related substations become more integral to Australia’s energy infrastructure, their exposure to bushfire hazards must be addressed through robust and holistic fire engineering strategies. By combining regulatory compliance with innovative performance-based fire solutions, Fire Safety Engineers can ensure these assets remain safe, reliable, and resilient—even in the face of extreme bushfire events.

References

"Planning for Bush Fire Protection: Addendum January 2025, NSW Government." NSW Rural Fire Service, https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/282199/Addendum-to-PBP-2019_January-2025.pdf. Accessed 1 July, 2025.

"Battery Storage Safety Guide" Energy Safe Victoria, https://esv.vic.gov.au/. Accessed 1 July, 2025.

"Guidelines for Fire Safety in Energy Storage Systems" Fire Protection Australia, https://www.fpaa.com.au/. Accessed 1 July, 2025.

"BESS Failure Incident Database" Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), https://www.epri.com/. Accessed 1 July, 2025.