ᐅ Photovoltaic Battery Storage – Market Overview and Fire Risk

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?

To my knowledge, this is covered by the homeowner’s insurance, but it must be reported there and will increase the premium.

It depends on the insurance. I informed my insurance company, and I was told that my premiums would not change because of this.

Regarding the Senec storage system... I haven’t seen the post, but I’m personally affected since we also have one of these units in our utility room. After the incidents with Senec, all batteries were replaced as a precaution in our case. Our system has been running again for some time now, and I’m not worried about it. There are also recurring incidents with gas heating systems that destroy entire houses, yet gas heating continues to be installed. Such technology always carries a certain level of risk.

What type of storage system do you have exactly? In hindsight, I wouldn’t choose a Senec system again because they use lithium-ion batteries. Many other manufacturers now use the significantly safer LiFePO batteries.

It is a lithium-ion battery with NMC cell chemistry.

DaGoodness schrieb:

because these really use lithium-ion batteries. Many other manufacturers now rely on the significantly safer LiFePO batteries.

Wiki:
The lithium iron phosphate battery (lithium ferro phosphate battery, LFP battery) is a type of lithium-ion battery with a cell voltage of 3.2 V to 3.3 V.

LiFePO is also a lithium-ion battery.
The actual material difference is:
LiFePO – lithium iron – lower energy density – less likely to catch fire – e.g., Sonnen
NMC – nickel manganese cobalt – higher energy density – slightly more likely to catch fire – Senec

Best regards

Thank you for the technical correction.

Fundamentally, the same batteries are used in this case as with Senec.
The question is to what extent you can still clarify anything with the electrician, since the unit is already in your basement.
Personally, I wouldn’t have that much concern about it.