6 FAQs about Energy storage station catches fire with old batteries

Did a solar battery storage unit catch fire in San Diego?

A fire erupted on Monday inside a solar battery storage container at the Valley Center Energy Storage Facility in northern San Diego County, California. The fire occurred when a battery storage unit caught fire, according to Terra-Gen, owner of the energy storage facility.

Are large-scale battery energy storage systems safe?

A report released Friday by a clean-energy trade group spells out best practices for safe use of large-scale battery energy storage systems following a major fire at a battery facility early this year.

What happened at Valley Center energy storage facility?

The fire occurred when a battery storage unit caught fire, according to Terra-Gen, owner of the energy storage facility. The Valley Center Energy Storage Facility is a stand-alone 139 MW energy storage project located on a 7-acre property within a commercial-industrial zone.

What happened at Gateway Energy Storage?

July 7, 2025 SAN DIEGO, Calif. (July 7, 2025) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into a settlement agreement with Gateway Energy Storage, LLC to direct cleanup in the wake of a lithium-ion battery fire that occurred at the company's energy storage facility in San Diego.

What happened at Gateway Energy Storage in Otay Mesa?

One year after a stubborn battery fire broke out at the Gateway Energy Storage facility in Otay Mesa, the site has not returned to its previous level of output.

What is a battery energy storage system?

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) stabilize the electrical grid, ensuring a steady flow of power to homes and businesses regardless of fluctuations from varied energy sources or other disruptions. However, fires at some BESS installations have caused concern in communities considering BESS as a method to support their grids.

View/Download Energy storage station catches fire with old batteries [PDF]

PDF version includes complete article with source references. Suitable for printing and offline reading.