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Hybrid co-locatedSouth KoreaEIR-0153

Battery storage fire at solar site in Gunsan, South Korea

June 2018Published 7 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fire
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hiddenAsset hidden years oldThe maker is named in 8 other entries (being named is not a finding of fault)
Where
solar power facility in Osikdo-dong, Gunsan, North Jeolla, South Korea
Manufacturer
Samsung SDI
What
fire broke out in a battery energy storage system
Injuries
None reported
Response
Emergency services attended with around fifty personnel and chemical fire appliances

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Samsung SDI

What happened

In 2018, a fire broke out in a battery energy storage system, manufactured by Samsung SDI, installed at a solar power facility in Osikdo-dong, Gunsan, North Jeolla, South Korea. Emergency services attended with a substantial number of vehicles, including chemical fire appliances, and around fifty personnel. Fire officials stated that the fire originated in lithium batteries and presented an explosion risk, so initial efforts were directed at preventing spread to surrounding areas rather than direct attack.

No injuries were reported. The system was reported to have been in operation for approximately six months before the fire. The cause, the extent of damage and any remediation were not disclosed in the available reporting.

Contributing factors

Not reported in the available source. Fire officials were reported as stating only that the fire originated in the lithium batteries and carried an explosion risk.

Lessons learned

  1. Lithium battery fires carry an explosion risk, so responders must use containment and exclusion tactics rather than direct attack on the enclosure.
  2. Battery systems at solar sites need pre-planned access details and isolation points so responders can decide on containment quickly.
  3. Operators must monitor and inspect battery systems from the first months of service as thermal events can occur early.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, detection and monitoring, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the fire
  • Extent of damage and remediation
  • Battery system model and capacity
  • Downtime and cost of the incident

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

Source

nocutnews.co.kr

Other entries that name Gunsan

Published 2026-09-07. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Hybrid co-located incidents in South Korea, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Hybrid co-located incidents in South Korea: 20 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

See battery storage explosions.

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