Causes and Prevention of Thermal Runaway in Lithium-Ion Batteries — a U.S. Utility Perspective

Authors

Shaun Lavin, PPL Corporation and University of KentuckyFollow
Kwabena Kyeremeh, University of KentuckyFollow
Elias Nemeh, PPL Corporation and Penn State UniversityFollow
David Beyerle, PPL CorporationFollow
Chad Alkire, PPL CorporationFollow
Samuel Kelty, PPL CorporationFollow
Lakshmi Srinivasan, EPRIFollow
Stephanie Shaw, EPRIFollow
Erin Minear, EPRIFollow
Haresh Kamath, EPRIFollow
Dan Ionel, University of KentuckyFollow
Aron Patrick, PPL CorporationFollow

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are a critically important technology for maintaining grid reliability with the integration of variable intermittent renewable energy resources. However, lithium-ion batteries also pose significant human safety and infrastructure hazards due to the inherent risk of thermal runaway, fire, and explosion, which should be understood, mitigated, and managed. While battery manufacturers have primary responsibility for the design, manufacturing, and software which are necessary to keep battery storage systems safe, electric utilities also have an important role in understanding these risks and adopting best practices to mitigate them. This paper provides background on utility-scale battery deployment, an overview of a successful installation and operation practices of battery energy storage systems (BESSs) and discusses three general categories of battery abuse contributing to battery fires — thermal abuse, physical abuse, and operational abuse — and proposes strategies for their mitigation. Operational and safety measures developed by a leading U.S. utility based on eight years of experience managing utility-scale lithium-ion battery systems are also discussed.

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

11-2024

Notes/Citation Information

Lavin, Shaun E.; Kyeremeh, Kwabena A.; Nemeh, Elias; Beyerle, David S.; Alkire, Chad; Kelty, Samuel; Srinivasan, Lakshmi, Shaw, Stephanie; Minear, Erin; Kamath, Haresh; Ionel, Dan M.; and Patrick, Aron, “Causes and Prevention of Thermal Runaway in Lithium-Ion Batteries — a U.S. Utility Perspective” (2024). Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications.

Funding Information

This study was funded by PPL Corporation Research and Development, with support from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

Repository Citation

Lavin, Shaun; Kyeremeh, Kwabena; Nemeh, Elias; Beyerle, David; Alkire, Chad; Kelty, Samuel; Srinivasan, Lakshmi; Shaw, Stephanie; Minear, Erin; Kamath, Haresh; Ionel, Dan; and Patrick, Aron, "Causes and Prevention of Thermal Runaway in Lithium-Ion Batteries — a U.S. Utility Perspective" (2024). Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications. 93.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/peik_facpub/93