As battery energy storage systems expand worldwide, advanced hydrogen detection and fire prevention technologies are becoming critical safeguards.
As the world continues its transition to a net zero economy, battery energy storage systems (BESS) look set to become an ever more common feature of landscapes around the globe.
Indeed, the sector is growing rapidly; according to the International Energy Agency, battery storage is now the world’s fastest growing power technology, with 108 GW of new capacity deployed in 2025, 11 times the total installed in 2021.
High risk fire environments
But with new opportunities come new risks. BESS facilities store energy in lithium-ion batteries, which are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and are inherently flammable. Rapid overheating can lead to thermal runaway, a chain of chemical reactions that can cause an uncontrollable increase in temperature. As a battery overheats, it releases flammable gases, including hydrogen, which can build up in BESS modules and cause explosions, releasing toxic fumes and hazardous materials.
What’s more, once these fires start, they are very hard to control, so until recently some experts advocated a “let it burn” approach. Yet this would see massive investments go up in smoke and cause lengthy disruption for BESS operators. The best option is to stop these fires from happening in the first place, which is why prevention must be the number one priority.
Real-time monitoring
Kentec, one of the world’s leading providers of fire detection and alarm solutions, has pioneered a solution that does exactly that. At its heart is Kentec’s award-winning K-Detect-iON calibration-free flammable gas detector, with sophisticated hydrogen sensing capabilities. Identifying and venting the gas before it becomes explosive is paramount to preventing BESS fires. Recognised under Underwriters Laboratories’ UL 2075 specification, K-Detect-iON is currently the only calibration-free hydrogen sensor on the market. It allows real-time monitoring of remote energy storage facilities and rapid response to incidents. It needs no calibration for at least 10 years, cutting service costs and site disruption.
K-Detect-iON integrates seamlessly with the Sigma ZXT control panel as part of a complete BESS fire protection solution. The Sigma ZXT has achieved an UL listing at the latest UL 864 10th edition standard, ensuring compliance with one of the world’s most widely recognised fire safety benchmarks. It means Kentec’s platform can form the foundation of compliant early-warning fire detection and suppression systems globally, from the Americas to the Middle East and South East Asia.
Batteries are not always the source of fire risk in a BESS. Research by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has found that 89% of BESS failures involved controls or balance-of-system equipment rather than battery cells themselves. The Sigma ZXT addresses both: it can release extinguishant within the control elements to stop a conventional fire spreading to the batteries, and it can manage the venting of explosive gases.
As the world comes to rely more on battery energy storage systems, the need for intelligent early-warning detection and controlled suppressant release has never been greater. Using Kentec’s advanced, integrated systems, BESS operators can protect their assets and the promise of a lower carbon future.
To find out more, visit www.kentec.co.uk.
