Completion of the “Safe operation of home storage systems” project
Home storage systems for the temporary storage of solar power are considered a key technology of the energy transition − but what happens if such a storage system catches fire? And how can such risks be minimised at an early stage? The “Safe operation of home storage systems” research project, funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, investigated precisely these questions. The project has now been successfully completed − with practical results for greater energy and building safety.
In an interdisciplinary collaboration, the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut (EMI) and Furtwangen University (HFU) researched protection concepts to minimise the risk of fire and explosion from lithium-ion home storage systems. Of particular interest − the development of fire protection recommendations for manufacturers, fire departments and end users.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marion Meinert, Professor of Safety and Hazard Prevention at HFU, made the contribution from Furtwangen University and emphasises, “The findings not only contribute to the safe handling of home storage systems - they also strengthen the interaction between research, fire departments and industrial applications.”
The Furtwangen University project team − with research assistants Ralf Bosch and Marvin Janßen − also analysed the effectiveness of active and passive fire protection measures. The resulting recommendations are aimed specifically at non-police emergency response personnel such as fire departments and fire safety officers.
As associated partners, RCT Power GmbH and XBAG GmbH supported the project with their expertise and products. A practical overall concept was developed in collaboration with organisations such as the NRW Fire Service Institute.
The project thus provides impetus for preventive fire protection and is an example of how safety research at HFU − with the intensive incorporation of fire department practice − contributes to solutions for tomorrow.