Sungrow undertakes 20MWh burn test to set new safety standards for battery energy storage
Iain Hoey
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Sungrow conducts largest burn test for energy storage systems
In June 2024, Sungrow became the first company to conduct a large-scale burn test on its 10MWh PowerTitan 1.0 battery energy storage system (BESS).
Recently, the company escalated its efforts by investing approximately 4.23 million USD in a 20MWh burn test of the PowerTitan 2.0 liquid-cooled BESS.
According to Sungrow, the test replicated real-world fire conditions at a power plant, overseen by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) experts and over 100 clients.
The results showed no fire propagation during the thermal runaway incident.
Sungrow stated: “This test set a new benchmark for safety through rigorous and extreme testing conditions.”
The 25-hour combustion test demonstrates system durability
The burn test subjected the system to over 25 hours of combustion, exceeding standard industry tests of 4 to 8 hours.
Despite the prolonged exposure, the thermal runaway container maintained structural integrity, and the fire did not spread beyond the unit.
Sungrow attributed this to the PowerTitan 2.0’s advanced explosion venting, flame retardancy, and impact resistance technologies.
The system remained safe for removal even after the test, highlighting its durability under extreme conditions.
Extreme heat containment in closely packed units
The test simulated extreme scenarios by placing fully charged units just 15 cm apart, compared to the standard 3-metre spacing in most plants.
During the trial, temperatures reached 1,385°C—enough to melt steel—but the fire was contained within one unit.
The neighbouring unit, located only 15 cm away, maintained a safe temperature of 40°C.
This validated the BESS’s thermal insulation and fire containment capabilities even in tightly packed configurations.
Fire resistance verified without active firefighting systems
During one phase of the trial, Sungrow disabled all active firefighting systems for the BESS to assess its passive fire protection.
The system performed effectively, containing the fire within the unit and preventing doors from burning through.
Sungrow noted that this demonstrated the PowerTitan 2.0’s robust design, which mitigates risk even in worst-case scenarios.
The results reinforced the system’s ability to autonomously address fire incidents.
Sungrow undertakes 20MWh burn test to set new safety standards for battery energy storage: Summary
Sungrow recently conducted a 20MWh burn test on its PowerTitan 2.0 BESS, investing approximately 4.23 million USD to replicate real-world fire conditions.
This test, overseen by DNV and observed by over 100 clients, lasted over 25 hours.
Key outcomes included no fire propagation during a thermal runaway event, containment of temperatures exceeding 1,385°C, and successful fire resistance without active firefighting systems.
The results demonstrated the system’s structural durability, thermal insulation, and advanced safety features.
Sungrow stated that the test sets a new safety benchmark for the energy storage sector and reinforces the company’s focus on ensuring safety in power plant operations.
