| | | |

Ensuring Safety and Efficiency with FLIR Thermal Monitoring for Battery Energy Storage Systems

March 3, 2025

Ensuring Safety and Efficiency with FLIR Thermal Monitoring for Battery Energy Storage Systems

FLIR Thermal Monitoring for Battery Energy Storage Systems

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are essential for storing renewable energy and ensuring grid stability. However, their implementation comes with inherent risks, particularly related to lithium-ion battery fires.

BESS fires can start from thermal runaway, where one cell failure can trigger a cascade of overheating, leading to fires that are difficult to extinguish and can last for hours or even days. Should a fire breakout, hazardous gases would release from the batteries, posing health risks to nearby communities and causing environmental damage through soil and water contamination. In severe cases, BESS fires have the potential for huge disruptions to locals through property damage and even evacuations.

Ensuring Safety and Efficiency with FLIR Thermal Monitoring for Battery Energy Storage Systems
The FLIR A700F Advanced Smart Sensor is ideal for users who want built-in, on-camera analytics and alarm capabilities for early fire detection applications.

Traditional detection methods such as flame detectors often fail in the early stages of a BESS fire due to their reliance on visible flames or smoke, which might not be immediately present. Where flame detectors fall short, thermal imaging cameras can significantly improve protection and prevent fires before they ever reach combustion.

Advantages of Thermal Cameras for BESS
Thermal cameras detect the heat signature from the onset of thermal runaway long before visible flames or smoke appear, allowing for preemptive action to mitigate risks. While flame detectors react to events that have already happened, a fixed thermal camera such as the FLIR A700F Advance Smart Sensor provides 24/7 surveillance by continuously monitoring for temperature anomalies that could indicate an impending fire, thus enabling early intervention.

FLIR cameras are designed for easy integration into broader safety and control systems, allowing for automated responses such as activating suppression systems that enhance response times and efficiency.

Comparison with Other Detection Methods

While flame detectors are designed to detect visible fire, they may miss smoldering or hidden fires—meaning an alert may not be tripped until the fire has escalated to a dangerous level. FLIR thermal imaging cameras can detect heat in low light and see the beginnings of embers as they heat up surrounding materials, even when there’s no visible sign of fire.

This early detection can prevent escalation or at least minimize damage by providing critical time for action before fires get out of control. Another advantage of thermal cameras is their ability to monitor large areas or multiple battery racks simultaneously, providing comprehensive coverage which is often challenging for point-specific flame detectors.

Ensuring Safety and Efficiency with FLIR Thermal Monitoring for Battery Energy Storage Systems
Lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries monitored under thermal imaging.

Conclusion
Incorporating FLIR thermal monitoring into BESS installations not only addresses the critical safety concerns associated with battery fires but also offers a proactive, reliable, and technologically advanced solution. By choosing a FLIR fixed thermal solution, you ensure that your energy storage systems are safeguarded with the industry’s leading thermal imaging technology, protecting both your investment and the community from the devastating effects of BESS fires.

ABOUT FLIR, A TELEDYNE TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
FLIR, a Teledyne Technologies company, is a world leader in intelligent sensing solutions for industrial applications with thousands of employees worldwide. Founded in 1978, the company creates advanced technologies to help professionals make better, faster decisions that save lives and livelihoods.

More Information

For more information, please visit their website

Related Story

New Discounts on the FLIR 124-LD Acoustic Camera

In 2021, FLIR Teledyne launched the FLIR Si124-LD acoustic imaging camera. It represented state of the art technology and 4 years later it is still seen as a high-end analytical tool with an amazing array of advanced features and benefits.

So what is an acoustic camera and what are they used for? Acoustic cameras contain a high number of highly sensitive microphones capable of detecting sounds well out of the audible range of the human ear. The sounds picked up by the microphones are translated into signals on a screen creating a visual image of the environment being analysed.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • ABB Contactor Selection Guide Canada

    October 1, 2025 ABB contactors are among the most reliable electrical switching devices in industrial automation. As Canada’s leading ABB authorized distributor, Proax has helped thousands of engineers and technicians select the right ABB contactor for their applications. Whether you’re designing a new motor control panel or replacing existing equipment, choosing the right ABB contactor can… Read More…

  • 25 Advanced Motion Control Questions Answered

    October 1, 2025 Electromate has compiled a list of 25 advanced mechatronic engineering FAQs covering inertia, vibration, servo safety, control tuning, encoder resolution, and motion system design, and provided answers from their team of experts across the country. How do I model moment loading in real-world applications with offset payloads? Moment loading should be calculated… Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products

  • Schneider Electric Unveils New AI Data Centre Reference Designs with NVIDIA

    October 6, 2025 Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced new reference designs developed with NVIDIA that significantly accelerate time to deployment and aid operators as they adopt AI-ready infrastructure solutions. The first reference design delivers the industry’s first and only critical framework for integrated power management and liquid… Read More…

  • PISA-M Electronic Circuit Breakers: New NEC Class 2 Compliant Variants Available

    October 6, 2025 PULS introduces new 4-channel electronic circuit breakers designed specifically for power distribution in NEC Class 2 circuits, expanding the existing PISA-M series. PISA-M enables the safe distribution of load current into four individual Class 2 circuits. This offers a cost-effective alternative to multiple individually approved NEC Class 2 compliant power supplies, reducing both acquisition costs and… Read More…