#China #Energy Storage #Xiamen #Hithium #Fire Test

Hithium's Groundbreaking Fire Test

In an impressive demonstration of innovation and safety, Hithium, a global leader in energy storage technology, has executed the world’s first all open-door large-scale fire test of their Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) ∞Block with a capacity of 5 MWh. This pivotal event, which occurred on June 5, 2025, represents a significant advancement in the validation methods for battery storage systems, presenting a new standard for safety in the energy storage industry.

Setting New Standards for Safety

As concerns about thermal runaway and other safety incidents in BESS systems rise, the demand for more rigorous and standardized safety tests is urgent. Hithium's expansive fire test was designed to meet these requirements, and it consisted of four critical test challenges:

1. Unrestricted Combustion: Throughout the test, the doors of the containers remained fully open, allowing for a combustion environment that was unrestricted and characterized by an intensified oxygen flow. This setup is significantly more severe than traditional closed-door scenarios, providing a realistic assessment of fire propagation potential.

2. Minimal Separation: The BESS units were positioned adjacent to each other with only 15 cm of separation. Despite fire temperatures exceeding 1300 °C, there was no thermal propagation to any adjacent unit, showcasing effective insulation even at close quarters.

3. Deactivation of Fire Suppression Systems: All fire suppression systems were turned off, making the test entirely reliant on passive fire protection measures. This condition demonstrated the system's resilience in withstanding intense and prolonged fires without external suppression interventions.

4. Full Charge State Test: The BESS was subjected to testing at 100% state of charge (SOC) to maximize thermal energy release. This scenario validated the system's reliability and stability under the harshest of conditions.

Expert Oversight and Validation

Conducted by UL Solutions, a globally recognized safety certification authority, the test was supervised by certified fire protection engineers from the United States alongside Hithium’s customers. The test strictly complied with UL 9540A and NFPA 855 standards. Remarkably, after 15 hours of continuous burning, the integrity of the system remained intact, and no fire spread occurred to any of the three surrounding containers. This outcome not only validates Hithium’s multilayered passive safety architecture but also underscores its thermal insulation capabilities, even in extreme situations.

Commitment to Innovation

This achievement reflects Hithium’s dedication to innovation and quality, providing essential insights for future safety standards in the energy storage sector. Moving forward, Hithium is determined to elevate safety performance through technological advancements and global collaboration, steering the industry toward a more secure and reliable future.

About Hithium

Founded in 2019, Hithium is a prominent global player in new energy technology, wholly devoted to the development of energy storage solutions focused on advanced battery technologies and energy storage systems. The company has built robust research, production, sales, and service capabilities across global markets. As the only energy storage entity singularly oriented towards achieving large-scale GWh shipments of lithium-ion ESS batteries, Hithium’s customer-centric approach drives the creation of innovative technological products and solutions for clients across over 20 countries and regions.

This landmark test not only illustrates the potential of advanced energy storage solutions but serves as a wake-up call to industry stakeholders on the importance of rigorous safety testing protocols.