February 16, 2023: Second-life lithium ion batteries shouldn’t be deployed in dwelling power storage programs below any circumstances, based on one of many findings of a UK research .
The research, commissioned by the Workplace for Product Security and Requirements from Newcastle College and revealed on January 30, says that though some incidents of thermal runaway with home lithium ion battery power storage programs are identified to the general public, such occasions can result in fires, launch of poisonous. gasoline or explosion.
In response to the research, the numerous talks with stakeholders revealed two conflicting views on batteries within the second life.
First, {that a} security framework could be put in place to permit using second-life lithium ion batteries in home battery power storage programs, “so long as the total historical past of the batteries of their first functions in life are identified or they are often successfully examined”.
However the second, “extra radical view” of some respondents, is that the security of such cells can by no means be assured and “second life lithium ion batteries shouldn’t be used below any circumstances in home battery power storage programs”.
The research says that probably extra stringent necessities for home-built home power storage programs that use second-life batteries needs to be thought of. That is because of the danger of fireside and electrical hazards, the existence of potential untested batteries within the second life and the potential lack of expertise, such because the getting older of the battery and the abilities of customers to cut back the danger by means of testing and good system design.
There aren’t any UK or European requirements particularly for second-life lithium ion batteries though the British Requirements Establishment is creating requirements to deal with this hole, the research stated.
Contributors to the research embody representatives from greater than 30 organizations corresponding to BESS and EV producers and suppliers, business associations, battery recyclers, analysis institutes, public and authorities our bodies, product security specialists, and requirements our bodies.
The research is offered on-line.