Inquiry links series of South Korean ESS fires to protection, installation and operating gaps

2019Published 18 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisional

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From the recordRoot cause

Where: South Korea, 23 sites nationwide
What: 23 BESS fires from August 2017
Injuries: None reported
Cause: Inadequate protection, poor installation and operating gaps

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What happened

In June 2019 the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy published findings on 23 energy storage system fires reported nationwide over about a year and 10 months, beginning with a fire in Gochang, North Jeolla Province, in August 2017. A public-private committee investigated 23 accident sites and carried out 76 verification tests. Fourteen fires occurred while systems were on standby after being fully charged, six during charging or discharging, and three during installation and construction.

The committee identified inadequate battery protection against electrical shock, poor management of the operating environment, careless installation including poor storage and miswiring, and a lack of integrated control and protection. Some cell manufacturing defects were found, but fires did not occur when those defects were simulated. The committee said a defective battery could still become a risk if used for a long time in harsh conditions.

Contributing factors

The inquiry cited inadequate battery protection against electrical shock, poor management of the operating environment, careless installation, and the lack of an integrated control and protection system. It did not attribute the fires to a single site or a named product.

Lessons learned

BESS racks need electrical protection and an emergency stop that stops a shock or short from cascading through cells.
Operators must control moisture, dust and temperature in the operating environment to protect insulation.
Treat the whole BESS as one protected system at design, installation and operation rather than separate parts.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, design, standards and commissioning, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

Battery models and ages at each site
Downtime and repair costs
Exact sequence in each of the 23 fires

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Source

dongascience.com

Published 2026-09-18. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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