Wärtsilä validates explosion control system in battery storage tests

Image credit: Wärtsilä – explosion control testing

Inside Wärtsilä’s bid to tame explosion control in battery energy storage

Wärtsilä has announced the completion of large-scale testing of its Active Ignition Mitigation System (AIMS), designed for battery energy storage.

According to Wärtsilä, the tests took place in July at its Quantum2 containerised BESS enclosure in the United States.

The company reported that three separate trials simulated worst-case thermal runaway events, during which a blend of flammable gas was released at multiple internal points for two minutes.

It said a US-based utility, a fire alarm vendor, and a third-party consultant observed the testing process.

Wärtsilä confirmed that across all scenarios, AIMS prevented uncontrolled deflagrations and structural damage, leaving the enclosure intact and functional.

Features of the Active Ignition Mitigation System

Wärtsilä explained that AIMS is engineered to ignite flammable gases before they accumulate in dangerous concentrations.

It added that the system uses sparker technology alongside door-mounted deflagration panels to trigger controlled ignition during early stages of a thermal incident.

The manufacturer indicated that this design reduces the risk of severe off-gas build-up and minimises the likelihood of panel activation.

According to Wärtsilä, the successful outcome of these trials positions AIMS as an integrated explosion control option within BESS design.

Industry reaction and company perspective

Mishaal SyedNaveed, Product Manager, Fire Protection at Wärtsilä Energy Storage, said: “AIMS is more than just a technical upgrade – it represents a paradigm shift in energy storage safety.

“We believe true safety starts well before gases build up as a result of thermal runaway.

“With AIMS, we are pioneering technology to help our customers manage BESS risks before they escalate.”

Broader safety strategy

Wärtsilä stated that the testing marked the first full-system evaluation of its kind in the energy storage sector.

The organisation highlighted that the results reflect an approach focused on proactive ignition rather than reactive containment.

Tamara De Gruyter, President of Wärtsilä Energy Storage and Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä, said: “This test is a first-of-its-kind in the industry, and a powerful testament to the leadership of our fire safety experts.

“We’re not only rethinking how storage systems are built, we’re also actively collaborating with first responders, emergency personnel, customers, consultants, and other stakeholders to engineer a robust system and best equip our partners to act when it matters most.”

Data collection and regulatory context

The company reported that the testing included the collection of temperature, static and dynamic pressure, UV/IR, and visual data.

It added that this information will be used in further development of safety systems and operational standards.

Wärtsilä noted that the investment in testing aligns with its commitment to exceed safety and compliance requirements in global markets.

The group said it continues to work with customers to provide lifecycle support and ensure products remain aligned with evolving regulations.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The results of these trials highlight advances in addressing explosion control risks associated with thermal runaway in battery energy storage.

For fire services, the development of early-stage ignition technology provides an example of how storage systems may mitigate risks before escalation.

Emergency personnel and regulators can also draw on the testing data as evidence for how enclosure design may evolve to meet future compliance demands.

The trials provide a reference point for evaluating safety features in other containerised storage systems.

Wärtsilä validates explosion control system in battery storage tests: Summary

Wärtsilä has announced the completion of full-scale testing of its Active Ignition Mitigation System (AIMS).

The testing took place in July in the United States at Wärtsilä’s Quantum2 containerised BESS enclosure.

A flammable gas blend representative of UL 9540A testing was released at multiple internal points during each trial.

The testing was observed by a US-based utility, a fire alarm vendor, and a third-party consultant.

Wärtsilä reported that AIMS prevented uncontrolled deflagrations and structural damage in all three tests.

The system uses sparker units and deflagration panels to ignite gases at an early stage of a thermal event.

The company said data gathered during the tests will inform further development of storage safety measures.

Wärtsilä indicated that its investment aligns with efforts to exceed safety and regulatory requirements across global markets.