Energy technology specialist Etica Battery has developed an immersion cooling system which it says can help stop Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) going into thermal runaway and catching fire.

Etica says the technology is already being used by customers, and has been proven to effectively eliminate the risk of thermal runaway in lithium batteries.

BESS are deployed at sites such as data centers to store energy that can be used as backup power, or to bolster supply if power available from the grid fluctuates.

But if damaged, these batteries can go into thermal runaway. The process occurs when the cathode and nanode of a cell come into direct contact, causing a reaction that can lead to overheating and highly combustible vapor being released by the cell.

This leads to a risk of fire or explosion, and thermal runaway is one of the biggest causes of electric vehicle fires. Several data center fires are thought to have been caused by lithium fires.

Taiwanese company Etica believes it has eliminated this problem through its proprietary battery module, which contains a nonflammable, noncorrosive, and nontoxic dielectric oil that is said to absorb heat and prevent propagation to adjacent cells.

The system continuously monitors battery temperature and adjusts cooling in real-time. Etica claims that, in the event of a total system failure, its testing demonstrates that the dielectric oil compound within each battery module absorbs runaway cell heat to prevent further propagation.

"Safety has always been our top priority as energy storage becomes an integral part of our communities," said Gavin Wang, CEO of Etica Battery. "Our immersion cooling technology isn't just setting a new industry standard for safety - it's revolutionizing how we approach energy storage.

“By effectively eliminating the risk of propagation from thermal runway, we're opening doors to wider adoption of BESS in homes, industries, and utility grids, accelerating the transition to sustainable energy."

Earlier this month, DCD reported on new compound material developed by Korean firm LG Chem which it believes will help stop lithium-ion batteries from going into thermal runaway.