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Case Study: McMicken Battery Energy Storage System Fire (Arizona, USA, 2019)

The McMicken Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) fire in Arizona in 2019 highlights critical safety challenges associated with lithium-ion energy storage. The 2 MW / 2 MWh lithium-NMC battery system experienced a thermal runaway event, leading to an explosion.

The failure stemmed from multiple contributing factors, including an undetected internal cell failure, ineffective fire suppression, lack of thermal barriers, accumulation of flammable gases, and inadequate emergency response procedures. The incident underscores the need for advanced battery management systems, effective ventilation, and improved safety protocols to prevent similar disasters in energy storage facilities.