TECNALIA is driving safety in batteries and electric vehicles
The BESSFIRE initiative, led by TECNALIA, promotes advanced research to increase the safety of battery energy storage systems (BESS), electric vehicles and the associated infrastructure, thereby contributing to the safe roll-out of these key technologies for the energy transition.
In addition to their use in electric mobility, static BESS systems play a key role in the integration of renewable energy and in the operation of data centres, by enabling energy to be stored during periods of low demand and increasing the stability and resilience of the electricity grid.
- This rapid growth has also brought about new safety challenges, particularly related to fires in lithium-ion batteries.
- Recent incidents, both in urban areas and at large-scale storage facilities, have highlighted the complexity of such events, the difficulty of extinguishing them and their potential impact on the safety of people, infrastructure and the environment.
BESSFIRE aims to build a solid foundation of scientific and technological knowledge that comprehensively addresses the risks associated with energy storage systems and battery-powered vehicles.
The project seeks to move towards the safe, efficient and sustainable deployment of BESS as a key solution for clean energy storage.
BESS and electric vehicles
BESSFIRE is organised into three complementary lines of research:
- Battery safety, focusing on the characterisation and modelling of electrochemical and thermal failures, thermal management, ageing analysis and the simulation of thermal runaway events.
- Advanced algorithms for early detection and risk management, through the development of State of Safety models, machine learning techniques, computer vision and advanced sensors to anticipate critical events.
- Infrastructure safety, focusing on innovation in fire-extinguishing and containment systems, the development of pre-standard recommendations and the integration of risk management technologies in real time.
*The BESSFIRE project is led by TECNALIA, with the participation of Cidetec, Ikerlan, EHU and Mondragón University. It is funded by the Basque Government’s ELKARTEK programme.