Tesla’s Elkhorn battery storage facility, located in Monterey County, California, caught fire last night around 1:30 a.m. after a Tesla Megapack reportedly caught fire. PG&E told Teslarati that it was notified of the fire at 1:30 a.m. and that, as of 9:28 a.m., the fire is still being fought by local firefighters along with assistance from PG&E. The fire appears to have started in an isolated Megapack, according to details released by PG&E. The fire was contained to a single Megapack, which is Tesla’s commercial battery storage system. The safety systems at the facility were operating as designed when the fire was detected. The battery storage facility was automatically disconnected from the power grid, the company told us. PG&E said the Elkhorn Battery Storage System has a security system consisting of several protocols:
Thermal alarms on battery banks with the ability to trigger plant shutdown if battery temperatures exceed safe operating limits. Early warning system that uses visible and audible alarms to alert co-workers and first responders to a fire hazard and to evacuate the area. An incident command center found a safe distance from the batteries equipped with alarm monitors, cameras, emergency control and other tools to manage an incident without harming people. Pre-fire plan and training program involving both PG&E colleagues and the North (Monterey) Fire District
There were no injuries to hotel staff and guests have not reported any disruptions at this time. Reports indicate that Highway 1 has been closed due to the fire. PG&E did not include that in its statement. The 182.5 megawatt energy storage system was commissioned and certified for market participation by the California Independent System Operator on April 7, 2022. The battery helps store excess energy from solar panels and helps California avoid blackouts during during hot weather and other times when energy use is high. There are 256 Tesla Megapacks on site, capable of storing and sending up to 730 megawatt-hours of energy to the grid at a peak rate of 182.5 MW for up to four hours during periods of high demand. Construction of the project officially began in July 2020. The BESS at Moss Landing powered by a Tesla Megapack was commissioned to PG&E’s grid This is a developing story. Check back for more updates. I would love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns or questions, please email me at [email protected] You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey or if you have tips for news you can email us at [email protected]i.com. UPDATE: Tesla’s PG&E facility in Elkhorn catches fire and shuts down Highway 1
