Battery storage fire at solar plant in Chilgok, South Korea
Apr 2023Published 11 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- Solar power plant in Dongmyeon-myeon, Chilgok-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
- What
- Fire in battery energy storage system facility
- Injuries
- None reported
- Response
- 86 personnel and 31 vehicles; controlled after six hours
- Cause
- Under investigation
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What happened
A fire broke out at approximately 14:33 on 7 April 2023 in the battery energy storage system (ESS) facility of a solar power plant in Dongmyeon-myeon, Chilgok-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Fire authorities dispatched 86 personnel and 31 vehicles to the scene. The blaze took around six hours to bring under control, with full extinguishment declared at approximately 20:36 the same day. A lightweight steel-frame structure and a 9,120 kWh ESS unit were damaged by the fire.
No injuries were reported. Fire and police authorities stated they were investigating the exact cause and the extent of the damage, which was estimated by fire authorities at approximately 1.683 billion Korean won.
Contributing factors
The exact cause of the fire had not been determined at the time of reporting; fire and police authorities stated an investigation was ongoing.
Lessons learned
- ESS fires at solar sites can take six hours to control even with 86 personnel and 31 vehicles, so operators must fit robust on-site suppression and early detection.
- Lightweight steel-frame structures housing ESS can be fully damaged by fire, so insurers should check fire spread limits in co-located solar and storage designs.
- Root cause findings after unexplained ESS ignition should be published to help the industry avoid repeat events.
More lessons on detection and monitoring, spacing, layout and fire spread, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Exact cause of the fire
- ESS unit model and age
- Downtime and repair cost
This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.
Source
Other entries that name Chilgok
Published 2026-09-11. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
