Battery storage container fire at Aghione solar site, France

In 2023 a fire broke out in a lithium-ion battery storage container at a co-located solar generation site in Aghione, Haute-Corse, France. The battery system was reported to be at about 95% state of charge at the time. An automatic inert gas suppression system activated, and emergency teams responded and isolated power supplies. Shortly after container doors were opened for firefighting, a further thermal event and an explosion occurred, injuring two firefighters who were taken to hospital. Three more firefighters were later hospitalised for smoke inhalation. Nearby homes and an adjacent industrial facility were evacuated and roads were closed, while a residential area several kilometres away was advised to remain indoors. Firefighters applied sustained water cooling to manage thermal runaway and to prevent spread to an adjacent container. Cooling continued for around ten days until temperatures stabilised, and the emergency response concluded after approximately two weeks. An investigation into the causes was opened by the relevant national technological accident authority.

The source states that the battery system was at a high state of charge, around 95%, when the fire started, meaning a large amount of stored energy had to be dissipated before conditions could stabilise. The source also records that a thermal event and explosion occurred shortly after the container was opened during firefighting.

1. A high state of charge at the onset of a battery fire increases the energy that must be dissipated and can prolong an incident, so state of charge should be included in pre-incident information provided to responders.
2. Opening a battery enclosure during or after suppression can trigger a sudden thermal or explosive event, so firefighting procedures should anticipate this and set safe stand-off distances before any door is opened.
3. Sustained, controlled water cooling over many days may be needed to stabilise a lithium-ion battery fire and prevent propagation to adjacent enclosures, so water supply and containment of run-off should be planned for extended durations.
4. Evacuation and stay-indoors zones agreed with local authorities in advance help manage risk to neighbouring occupiers during prolonged incidents.
5. Gas suppression alone may not prevent re-ignition or escalation in a battery enclosure, so response plans should assume cooling will still be required.

aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/60556