ᐅ Photovoltaic Battery Storage – Market Overview and Fire Risk

Created on: 24 Oct 2022 00:21
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DASI90
Maybe some of you have seen the short report on SWR about the Senec batteries that literally went up in smoke. Unfortunately, my wife saw it too. The battery (Varta) is installed in the basement and is waiting for final installation by the electrician. She is starting to get cold feet and doesn’t feel comfortable having it installed. What do you think about this? Of course, it’s clear that any battery device can catch fire or explode, or that there is a higher risk of an electrical fire somewhere else. But I can’t deny that it is still a very large lithium battery that is almost impossible to control if it catches fire due to a short circuit or defect.

I’m asking for advice on what precautions can be taken or what your thoughts are on this. Does anyone know if in case of an incident this would be covered by the home insurance policy or if it needs to be reported separately?
DASI9024 Oct 2022 11:08
He just offered my wife to take the storage battery back and install it on another construction site. But I wonder if there really is a better alternative that makes you feel safer? Even if it is a LiFePo battery.

I mean, lithium-ion battery storage systems also have safety mechanisms, don’t they?
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DaGoodness
24 Oct 2022 11:12
No, I would say the only alternative for your wife to feel "safe" is to have no hot water storage tank at all.
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WilderSueden
24 Oct 2022 11:16
Or alternatively, install a fire-rated door to the utility room 😉 Normally, these things don’t explode. Even less so in a house than in a car, since a house doesn’t crash into a tree. So, the fear is irrational, and there’s little you can do against irrational fears with rational arguments.
Tolentino24 Oct 2022 11:20
I think there are external storage tanks available. However, they are usually much more expensive and probably less efficient (frost protection?). Alternatively, you could place the storage tank in an insulated garden shed with a frost alarm.
Mahri2324 Oct 2022 12:01
Hello,

I also have a V 3 (from Senec) installed in my utility room. Nobody really knows what happens with it. In March, the device went into standby mode quite quickly. After a thorough inspection, the storage system was gradually reconnected to the grid after about 5-6 weeks. Since the storage is constantly "monitored" by Senec, we actually feel quite secure. I wouldn’t want to be without it anymore. It has been doing what it’s supposed to for "almost" two years now and has supported us well throughout that time. Everyone should decide for themselves whether they want a storage system... since bidirectional charging is not yet available for us, we will not be getting an electric car for the time being. Then, however, it could become more attractive again.
Tolentino24 Oct 2022 13:20
For me personally, a storage system only makes sense if electricity prices rise significantly (I’m still at 27.5 cents), with backup power, as an external battery (or at least in the cold roof space—I have no more room in the utility room), or with bidirectional charging in the BEV.

Or, of course, if it simply becomes much cheaper (100 EUR/kWh).