Battery explosion at Port of Gandia Solar-Storage Site injures firefighter

What happened

An explosion and fire occurred in a containerised lithium-ion battery energy storage system colocated with a solar photovoltaic installation at the Port of Gandia solar and storage installation in Port of Gandia, Valencia, Spain, an installation integrated by Electromur. An explosion was heard in the early evening, prompting nearby residents to alert emergency services. Around twenty firefighters from several stations, along with police and health services, responded to the scene.

Toxic smoke from the burning battery container was visible for a considerable distance. Firefighters worked through the night to protect an adjacent warehouse storing combustible material and to bring the fire under control, which was achieved by the following morning. During firefighting operations, one firefighter sustained a slight arm injury and was treated and discharged at the scene. The battery system had been in operation for approximately two years at the time of the incident.

Contributing factors

The source does not specify a technical root cause for the explosion or fire in the battery container.

Lessons learned

1. Toxic smoke from a lithium-ion battery fire can travel far, so operators must plan to alert residents and coordinate with multiple emergency units early.
2. Battery fires next to combustible warehouses require clear protection protocols for adjacent assets during response.
3. Explosion risk remains after ignition, so responders need standoff distances and protective equipment near battery containers.

More lessons on emergency response and public communication, spacing, layout and fire spread, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

• Technical root cause of the explosion
• Battery container model and age
• Duration of site downtime
• Cost of damage and response

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

pv magazine (pv-magazine.com)