Manufacturing defect in Powin battery units blamed for Warwick storage fires

Two battery energy storage facilities operated by Convergent Energy and Power in Warwick, New York, on County Route 1A and Church Street, experienced fire-related incidents. Following an investigation involving outside experts, the local school district and insurance representatives, Convergent determined the fires were caused by a manufacturing defect in Powin-branded Centipede battery modules, which allowed water to enter the units and resulted in an electrical fire. A third Warwick site using an older Powin battery system was unaffected. Convergent stated that replacement units for the defective Centipede models would likely not be available until the second half of 2024. The local utility began developing backup power solutions, including a mobile substation, while village trustees raised concerns about emergency response planning and first responder training, which had not yet occurred at the time of the incidents.

A manufacturing defect in Powin-branded Centipede battery storage units allowed water ingress into the enclosures, leading to an electrical fire. Additional training for local first responders on battery storage fire risks had been scheduled but had not taken place before the incidents occurred.

1. Operators should require rigorous quality assurance and water ingress testing from battery module manufacturers before deployment.
2. Emergency response training for local first responders should be completed prior to commissioning a battery storage system, not scheduled afterward.
3. Replacement part lead times for specialised battery hardware can be lengthy, so contingency and backup power plans should be established in advance.
4. Transparent and proactive communication with host communities and municipal boards is needed to maintain trust following safety incidents.

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