Fire at Escondido SDG&E battery storage facility extinguished - Monitoring Continues
Lithium Ion Battery Fire Contained,
Evacuation Orders Under Review
The main body of the lithium ion battery fire at the storage facility in Escondido has been extinguished, and air quality monitoring has not detected any harmful chemicals in the area. The fire is contained, with no active smoke, and the focus is now on preventing the fire from spreading to other containers. While the situation is improving, the fire chief warns that it's not completely in the clear, as they need to monitor the possibility of the fire reigniting. The evacuation orders and shelter-in-place orders are currently in effect, but a meeting is scheduled to review the situation and potentially lift some of the orders.
Summary
Current Status
1. Fire containment:
- The main body of the lithium-ion battery fire has been extinguished.
- The fire is contained, with no active smoke.
- Efforts are focused on preventing the fire from spreading to other containers.
2. Air quality:
- Air quality monitoring has not detected any harmful chemicals in the area.
- Authorities have determined that the air quality does not pose a health risk for those on-site or in the evacuation area.
3. Current situation:
- The fire chief warns that the situation is not completely clear yet.
- There's a need to monitor for potential reignition.
4. Evacuation and safety measures:
- Evacuation orders and shelter-in-place orders are currently in effect.
- A meeting is scheduled to review the situation and potentially lift some of the orders.
5. Expected duration:
- According to earlier estimates, the fire could take up to 48 hours to burn itself out completely.
6. Affected area:
- The fire is in a largely industrial part of Escondido.
- Some schools located downwind were closed.
7. Response approach:
- The fire is being allowed to burn out by itself, which is the industry standard for this type of incident.
- Water is not being used due to the chemicals involved.
8. Ongoing monitoring:
- SDG&E, along with various local authorities, continues to monitor the situation and air quality.
The situation appears to be improving, but authorities are maintaining caution and continuing to monitor the site closely.
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| SDG&E BESS and MicroGrid Project Map |
SDG&E BESS MicroGrid Project Schedule and Map
With SDG&E's elimination of nuclear and fossil fuel power plants, commitment to intermittent green energy sources (solar and wind), energy storage facilities are becoming necessary to maintain grid reliability and avoid blackouts. Solar power in particular is plentiful from commercial and residential rooftop sources at noon, and in short supply early in the morning and in the evening, at peak demand times.
These facilities, and the unique fire hazards they represent are spreading over San Diego county, as shown in the map above. No doubt, a fire at this facility which coincides with the hotest day in Escondido in over 5 years, and high A/C demand, will strain local power supplies, but power can probably be drawn from other facilities in the grid.
Current BESS Projects in construction:
- Santee 10 MW Battery Energy Storage System - estimated end date: Q1 2025
- Borrego Springs: additional 6.7 MW Battery Energy Storage System (for a site total of 8 MW) - estimated end date: Q1 2025
Current Microgrid Projects in construction:
- Cameron Corners: 500 kW Microgrid — estimated end date: Q4 2024
- Shelter Valley: 800 kW Microgrid — estimated dates for Phase 1: Q3 2024 - Q4 2024 and Phase 2: Q2 2025 - Q4 2025
- Butterfield Ranch: 800 kW Microgrid —Coming soon
The SDG&E Escondido BESS Facility
1. Escondido Battery Energy Storage System:
- Capacity: 30 MW
- Built by: San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
- Part of SDG&E's larger BESS portfolio
2. Overall SDG&E BESS Portfolio:
- As of 2024, SDG&E had around 21 BESS and microgrid sites.
- Total capacity: 335 megawatts (MW) of utility-owned energy storage
- Additional 49+ MW in development
3. Typical BESS Characteristics:
- Often installed on SDG&E-owned property
- Usually adjacent to existing substation facilities or in critical locations for grid reliability and resiliency
- Use various battery types, including lithium-ion manganese, lithium-ion phosphate, vanadium redox flow, iron-salt flow batteries, and hydrogen
4. Purpose and Operation:
- Absorb electricity when abundant on the power grid
- Send excess power back to the grid when needed, especially during evening hours
- Support grid reliability and integration of more clean energy
- Some are connected to the state's market, allowing the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to dispatch energy as needed
5. Construction and Safety:
- Batteries typically installed in custom-built, above-ground enclosures
- Equipped with fire suppression and warning systems
6. Recent Expansions:
- In February 2022, SDG&E was approved to build three new energy storage facilities totaling 161MW/664MWh
- These new projects were slated for completion in late 2022/early 2023
This information gives a comprehensive overview of SDG&E's BESS initiatives, including the Escondido project's capacity and its role in the larger energy storage strategy.
Escondido lithium battery fire continues to burn as county mulls over moratorium
Contributors: Thomas Fudge / Science and Technology Reporter, Bennett Lacy / Producer
Published September 6, 2024 at 4:17 PM PDT
Following yesterday's dramatic lithium battery fire resulting in evacuation orders and warnings at a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) battery storage facility in Escondido, local groups are reacting Friday, even as the fire continues to burn.
The fire, which began at the SDG&E facility Thursday afternoon, is being allowed to burn out by itself — per industry standard, a statement from the Escondido Fire Department reads. Just one of the site's 24 cells caught fire.
"Along with the San Diego County Hazardous Materials Division, the San Diego County Health Department and the city of Escondido, SDG&E has been actively monitoring air quality at the site of the fire and in the evacuation area throughout the incident," a joint statement from SDG&E and the EFD read. "Sampling locations and screening levels were identified under the guidance of the county and city Incident Coordinator, who have reviewed all results along with SDG&E and have determined that the air quality does not pose a health risk for those on site or in the evacuation area."
While no one has been injured by the fire — which may take up to 48 hours to burn itself out — evacuation orders remain in place in the largely industrial part of the city.
Fires like the one in Escondido have caused some groups to become wary of the large battery storage facilities. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is slated on Tuesday to take up an item placing a temporary pause on the application for new battery energy storage systems — shortened to BESS by people in the industry — until more stringent building and safety codes can be put in place.
This could freeze the proposed AES' Seguro storage project in Escondido, not far from where Thursday's fire took place. This project would be capable of storing up to 320 megawatts or 1,280 megawatt hours worth of energy - - several times larger than the facility where the fire continues to burn.
The moratorium the supervisors will discuss couldn't come any sooner, some residents say.
"Area residents are renewing their call for the county to issue a moratorium on building new lithium battery storage facilities in neighborhoods," reads a statement from a group of citizens, including JP Theberge of the Elfin Forest Harmony Grove Town Council and Joe Rowley, a retired engineer and battery storage facility developer.
"The Escondido battery fire is unfolding in an industrial area away from homes and residences. However, it reinforces the concerns of residents that a project that is 10 times larger (the Seguro project) is being proposed, which would be surrounded by hundreds of homes and upwind from a hospital in northern San Diego County, near Escondido," they write. "Despite the current fire being in an industrial area, hundreds of businesses were evacuated and many more were told to shelter-in-place. Schools located downwind were closed today as well."
However, the supervisors do not have to choose to put a freeze on all BESS projects, and could instead adopt an "urgency ordinance" requiring new BESS facilities to use updated safety guidelines.
This is important, because without the BESS facilities, the county could have a difficult time meeting its climate goals.
The battery storage facilities are a component of the county's respond to green energy, storing energy from renewable sources such as solar or wind to use as needed. They are intended as an alternative or at least a supplement to fossil fuel energies such as natural gas and oil.
Since 2021, there have been 45 fires at similar BESS facilities, including one at the Otay Mesa battery storage earlier this year and one in Valley Center last year.
Fire breaks out at Escondido SDG&E battery storage facility
ESCONDIDO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Fire crews are battling a fire at a San Diego Gas and Electric-operated battery storage facility in Escondido that broke out Thursday afternoon.
According to Escondido Fire Division Chief Tyler Batson, crews were first notified of the fire at 12:09 p.m. as a ringing alarm and a smoke check in the battery bank area of the facility, located at 571 Enterprise St.
Upon arrival, fire crews noticed smoke was seen coming from one of the battery storage trailers. Technicians on board confirmed a small fire was burning in one of the lithium-ion battery rank storage, Batson added.
A 1st alarm commercial fire response was called, with SDG&E’s contracted fire brigade, county emergency response and Escondido hazmat crews responding to the scene alongside Escondido Fire Department personnel.
As of 4 p.m., the fire remains active and has not been extinguished. According to Batson, experts said water cannot be put on the fire due to the involved chemicals, so their intervention is focusing on the area surrounding it.
“Fire suppression efforts are now being made to protect the neighboring battery storage units to make sure that they don’t light on fire as well,” Batson said. “The plan is really let what’s on fire burn and we’ll safely protect the areas around it to keep it from spreading.”
A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for the area around the facility, which is made up of largely commercial and industrial buildings, as a safety precaution.
The order applies to business located east of Alpine Street, south of Mission Road, west of Enterprise Street and north of Auto Park Way, the city of Escondido said in a Facebook post Thursday afternoon.
A map of the evacuation order boundaries can be found below.
Some homes are located near the fire, although it is not believed to be an immediate threat to residents at this time, Batson said.
On Thursday evening, the fire prompted the Escondido Union School District to announce the closures of Carolyn Gilbert Education Center, the Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences and Rock Springs Elementary schools for Friday.
No additional details were immediately available, including what caused the battery storage facility to erupt in flames.
According to Batson, crews will remain on scene until the flames subside.
“What I’ve been told by SDG&E is that, best case, this fire burns itself out in about 12 hours, worst case, about 48 hours,” Batson said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Update on Escondido Battery Storage Incident
Update on Escondido Battery Storage Incident
“Yesterday afternoon, safety and environmental crews responded to a fire at SDG&E’s battery storage facility in Escondido. The event was limited to one of 24 battery storage containers. There were no reported injuries.
“Due to the nature of the systems, industry standard is to allow the fire to burn out when it can be done safely and in a controlled environment. SDG&E will continue to work closely with fire officials until the storage container has been fully extinguished, which could take up to 48 hours.
“Along with the San Diego County Hazardous Materials Division, the San Diego County Health Department and the City of Escondido, SDG&E has been actively monitoring air quality at the site of the fire and in the evacuation area throughout the incident. Sampling locations and screening levels were identified under the guidance of the County and City Incident Coordinator, who have reviewed all results along with SDG&E and have determined that the air quality does not pose a health risk for those on site or in the evacuation area.
“Per Escondido Fire Department, the evacuation orders and warnings will remain in place as a precautionary measure until further notice.”
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Escondido Battery Storage Incident
September 5, 2024 - 3:30 p.m.
On September 5, 2024, safety crews responded to a fire at SDG&E’s battery storage facility in Escondido. Advanced fire suppression systems were activated immediately, and the event is limited to one of 24 battery storage containers. There are no reported injuries and emergency responders are on scene. SDG&E is working with first responders to ensure the safety of our employees and the community and will be conducting a thorough review of the event to determine the cause of the incident.
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