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BESS Energy Risk: Expert Videos on Safety and Prevention

By Travelers
1 minute

Key takeaways

  • BESS are essential to expanding renewable energy capacity but introduce complex safety and operational risks.
  • Construction hazards span transportation, staging and commissioning, each requiring targeted prevention strategies.
  • Thermal runaway is the most serious operational hazard, with consequences ranging from equipment damage to hard-to-suppress fires.
  • Predictive analytics and monitoring platforms can detect early warning signs before a minor anomaly escalates into a major incident.

Video #1  |  Video #2  |  Video #3  |  Video #4  |  Video #5  |  Video #6 

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are becoming essential to the renewable energy industry by addressing the variability of intermittent sources like solar and wind. These systems store excess power during peak production and release it when demand is high, helping to stabilize the grid, reduce reliance on fossil fuel backups and enable greater integration of renewables into the energy infrastructure. Beyond renewables, BESS strengthens the broader economy by enhancing resilience during outages, lowering peak electricity costs and driving innovation in energy storage. For example, in data centers, BESS provides rapid backup power, reduces diesel use and supports greener, more efficient operations – helping the digital economy meet sustainability goals.

While offering valuable operational flexibility, BESS also introduces complex risk considerations. Managing transport, installation or ongoing operations requires a clear grasp of BESS safety risks – and how to mitigate them. Worker errors can lead to accidents that can range from electrical hazards to explosions, which endanger both property and human safety. This video series explores key risk phases and prevention strategies tied to BESS deployment, drawing from expert insights, real-life case data and industry best practices. 

Watch the series: BESS insights from the field 

Video #1

BESS failures – what the data shows

Gain insights from BESS failure data, how failures are tracked and lessons learned for future projects.

Presented by Eula Billaut and Lakshmi Srinivasan, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

Video #2

Construction risks - transportation and preparation

Learn practical strategies for minimizing risks during BESS transport, delivery and staging. Topics include vetting carriers, pre-planning site access, safe unloading and site preparation.

Presented by Rod Reid, Risk Control, Travelers.

Video #3

BESS construction risk - testing and commissioning

Help ensure a safe and effective commissioning process by energizing systems in the correct sequence and verifying that HVAC, fire suppression and BMS are fully operational before bringing the unit online. 

Presented by Rod Reid, Risk Control, Travelers.

Video #4

Operational risks - thermal runaway risk

Get an overview of thermal runaway – what it is, its causes and the consequences.

Presented by Marek Strojvus, Risk Control Lab, Travelers.

Video #5

Operational risks - mitigating thermal runaway risk across the life cycle

Explore best practices for long-term BESS safety, including how to reduce risk through prevention monitoring and emergency planning.

Presented by Marek Strojvus, Risk Control Lab, Travelers.

Video #6

The power of BESS safety monitoring and analytics

Discover how predictive analytics and monitoring platforms can help surface early warning signs of potential problems in BESS systems, helping operators act before a minor anomaly escalates into a major incident.

Presented by Lennart Hinrichs, EVP & General Manager Americas, TWAICE.

To learn more, visit Travelers Insurance for the Renewable Energy Industry or contact your agent today

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