"Chief Thomas Currao, who leads the FDNY's Bureau of Fire Prevention, said the department's multilayered safety checks have made the city's oversight the benchmark for the safety of urban energy storage systems. The FDNY represents a multi-step safety gateway, Currao said, detailing full-scale fire testing, plan reviews, and inspections before any site is approved. We have code that is widely recognized as the most robust, comprehensive, and strict in the country."
"Lithium-ion battery energy storage systems, also known as BESS, store renewable energy and release it when demand peaks, often on sweltering days when the grid is under strain. Supporters argue that they are crucial to replacing fossil-fuel peaker plants, particularly in densely populated cities. Energy storage facilities, also known as battery farms, are popping up citywide as New York state transitions from 359 to 6,000 megawatts of storage to meet its clean-energy mandates."
"In 2023, several battery fires occurred across New York, smoldering intermittently for days from Jefferson County in the north to Orange County in the south. In January, a fire at one of the world's largest BESS plants in Northern California forced the evacuation of about 1,500 people and shut down a major highway. Fire incidents like these have only amplified scrutiny of BESS in residential areas."
FDNY's Bureau of Fire Prevention enforces a multilayered safety regime including full-scale fire testing, plan reviews, and inspections before site approval. City code sets strict, comprehensive standards. Lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) store renewable energy for peak demand and can replace fossil-fuel peaker plants. New York state plans expansion from 359 to 6,000 megawatts of storage to meet clean-energy mandates. Battery farms are appearing across the city, prompting protests over siting and lack of local input. Several 2023 battery fires and a major BESS blaze in California that prompted evacuations intensified scrutiny. Under city code, battery farms may be sited as close as 10 feet from neighboring properties.
Read at www.amny.com
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