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Safety is becoming a top priority in the energy transition. As battery storage scales across homes, industries, and critical infrastructure, the need for safer, regulation-ready solutions is growing—especially in environments where risks are not an option.
The rapid growth of renewable energy and the need for a flexible, stable grid have made battery storage integral to energy infrastructure—from homes and businesses to industrial sites and critical facilities. However, many battery chemistries, including lithium-ion, lead-acid, and sodium-ion, carry significant safety risks, such as thermal runaway that can lead to fires, toxic chemical releases, and environmental hazards. These risks not only restrict deployment in sensitive settings but also introduce regulatory and logistical challenges that can impose substantial financial burdens for battery energy storage system (BESS) projects.
Hence, safer battery alternatives are becoming crucial to ensure reliable and economical deployments, reduce systemic risk, and maintain public trust. Meanwhile, regulatory momentum in Europe and globally is extending producer responsibility, placing greater accountability on manufacturers to manage safety, environmental impact and lifecycle costs from production to end-of-life disposal.
Zinc-ion technology stands out as one of the safest battery solutions available. Its intrinsic safety is engineered from the outset, minimizing environmental and operational risks, simplifying compliance, and lowering lifecycle costs. This enables opportunities for zinc-ion batteries in markets where conventional batteries fall short—like densely populated urban areas, hospitals, defense depots, ships, and mines. Zinc-ion batteries offer a future-proof path to scaling BESS economically, responsibly and with fewer trade-offs.
A good battery stores energy and releases it predictably and in a controlled manner. But when something goes wrong, that stored energy can become dangerously volatile. Internal chemical reactions may generate heat, release toxic gases, or even trigger fires and explosions—posing serious risks to people, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting critical operations.
Stability in batteries isn’t guaranteed; it must be meticulously engineered and maintained at every stage of the battery’s lifecycle. Even then, systems can fail under stress. These risks introduce hidden costs across the battery’s lifecycle:
Battery safety isn’t optional—it’s key to economic viability, operational reliability, and public trust in BESS. Risks arise at every stage, from sourcing to disposal, and conventional chemistries bring built-in hazards that even smart management systems can’t fully eliminate. Reactive safety measures add to cost and complexity. For space-limited, safety-critical, or cost-sensitive applications, this is prompting a shift toward inherently safer chemistries where safety is built in, not engineered around.
Safety risks associated with conventional batteries, which include harm to people, the environment, and infrastructure, are facing increasing scrutiny from regulators. The term “safe” appears 122 times in the new Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/15421, a sharp rise from just 5 mentions in the EU Directive 2006/66/EC2 it replaces.
Under the EU Green Deal, the Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1543, which entered into force in August 2023, expands Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for battery manufacturers and operators. Taking a full battery lifecycle approach, it enforces safety and sustainability standards at all stages, from material sourcing to end-of-life disposal. The regulation complements existing legislation such as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) which limits the use of toxic materials in batteries. Manufacturers of battery cells, packs, and BESS are now obliged to:
The EU Clean Industrial Deal, released in February 2025, further integrates safety into environmental regulation. The initiative promotes European battery production and usage to reduce safety risks, while also addressing health and environmental risks. Key safety measures include toxic materials and emission reduction with strict sustainability criteria, supply chain risk assessments, and enforced compliance with safety standards. Furthermore, new environmental legislation is extending regulatory oversight to air and water protection—ensuring emissions do not contaminate ecosystems, and preventing toxic substances from entering waterways.
Globally, safety standards are also tightening. NFPA 855—the standard for the installation of stationary energy storage—is receiving significant attention. Organizations such as the American Clean Power Association (ACP)5 and the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE)6 have advocated for the wider adoption and enforcement of NFPA 855 as of May 2025, to ensure higher safety standards for large-scale battery installations.
Similarly, U.S. states and municipalities are tightening safety codes for battery installations7, with some even passing moratoriums8 on high-risk chemistries pending more robust safety data. These developments reflect the growing recognition that battery safety is no longer just a technical question but a matter of public health, environmental responsibility, and economic viability.
As regulators raise the bar on safety, the shift toward inherently safe technologies is gaining momentum. Compliance now demands rigorous safety testing, transparent reporting, and tight control of flammable and hazardous materials. Evolving regulations also introduce added complexity and uncertainty. For manufacturers, distributors, and operators working with inherently risk-prone chemistries, the hidden costs of compliance and risk management are accumulating—and visibly.
The changing regulations are driving a more holistic approach to battery safety, aiming to not only prevent failures in the field, but also to minimize harm throughout the entire battery lifecycle. Zinc-ion batteries, with their non-flammable, non-toxic chemistry and natural thermal stability, are well-positioned, facing fewer regulatory hurdles and offering a long-term competitive advantage.
Safety is becoming a top priority in the energy transition. As battery storage scales across homes, industries, and critical infrastructure, the need for safer, regulation-ready solutions is growing—especially in environments where risks are not an option.
Safety is becoming a top priority in the energy transition. As battery storage scales across homes, industries, and critical infrastructure, the need for safer, regulation-ready solutions is growing—especially in environments where risks are not an option.
Enerpoly has been selected for Cohort #6 of the RESPOND Accelerator by the BMW Foundation, advancing sustainable innovation and responsible leadership in the energy transition.
Enerpoly has been selected for Cohort #6 of the RESPOND Accelerator by the BMW Foundation, advancing sustainable innovation and responsible leadership in the energy transition.
Collaboration to advance zinc-ion battery solutions for the rapidly growing global energy storage market, driven by the increased need for greater energy resilience.
Collaboration to advance zinc-ion battery solutions for the rapidly growing global energy storage market, driven by the increased need for greater energy resilience.
Safety is becoming a top priority in the energy transition. As battery storage scales across homes, industries, and critical infrastructure, the need for safer, regulation-ready solutions is growing—especially in environments where risks are not an option.
The rapid growth of renewable energy and the need for a flexible, stable grid have made battery storage integral to energy infrastructure—from homes and businesses to industrial sites and critical facilities. However, many battery chemistries, including lithium-ion, lead-acid, and sodium-ion, carry significant safety risks, such as thermal runaway that can lead to fires, toxic chemical releases, and environmental hazards. These risks not only restrict deployment in sensitive settings but also introduce regulatory and logistical challenges that can impose substantial financial burdens for battery energy storage system (BESS) projects.
Hence, safer battery alternatives are becoming crucial to ensure reliable and economical deployments, reduce systemic risk, and maintain public trust. Meanwhile, regulatory momentum in Europe and globally is extending producer responsibility, placing greater accountability on manufacturers to manage safety, environmental impact and lifecycle costs from production to end-of-life disposal.
Zinc-ion technology stands out as one of the safest battery solutions available. Its intrinsic safety is engineered from the outset, minimizing environmental and operational risks, simplifying compliance, and lowering lifecycle costs. This enables opportunities for zinc-ion batteries in markets where conventional batteries fall short—like densely populated urban areas, hospitals, defense depots, ships, and mines. Zinc-ion batteries offer a future-proof path to scaling BESS economically, responsibly and with fewer trade-offs.
A good battery stores energy and releases it predictably and in a controlled manner. But when something goes wrong, that stored energy can become dangerously volatile. Internal chemical reactions may generate heat, release toxic gases, or even trigger fires and explosions—posing serious risks to people, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting critical operations.
Stability in batteries isn’t guaranteed; it must be meticulously engineered and maintained at every stage of the battery’s lifecycle. Even then, systems can fail under stress. These risks introduce hidden costs across the battery’s lifecycle:
Battery safety isn’t optional—it’s key to economic viability, operational reliability, and public trust in BESS. Risks arise at every stage, from sourcing to disposal, and conventional chemistries bring built-in hazards that even smart management systems can’t fully eliminate. Reactive safety measures add to cost and complexity. For space-limited, safety-critical, or cost-sensitive applications, this is prompting a shift toward inherently safer chemistries where safety is built in, not engineered around.
Safety risks associated with conventional batteries, which include harm to people, the environment, and infrastructure, are facing increasing scrutiny from regulators. The term “safe” appears 122 times in the new Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/15421, a sharp rise from just 5 mentions in the EU Directive 2006/66/EC2 it replaces.
Under the EU Green Deal, the Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1543, which entered into force in August 2023, expands Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for battery manufacturers and operators. Taking a full battery lifecycle approach, it enforces safety and sustainability standards at all stages, from material sourcing to end-of-life disposal. The regulation complements existing legislation such as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) which limits the use of toxic materials in batteries. Manufacturers of battery cells, packs, and BESS are now obliged to:
The EU Clean Industrial Deal, released in February 2025, further integrates safety into environmental regulation. The initiative promotes European battery production and usage to reduce safety risks, while also addressing health and environmental risks. Key safety measures include toxic materials and emission reduction with strict sustainability criteria, supply chain risk assessments, and enforced compliance with safety standards. Furthermore, new environmental legislation is extending regulatory oversight to air and water protection—ensuring emissions do not contaminate ecosystems, and preventing toxic substances from entering waterways.
Globally, safety standards are also tightening. NFPA 855—the standard for the installation of stationary energy storage—is receiving significant attention. Organizations such as the American Clean Power Association (ACP)5 and the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE)6 have advocated for the wider adoption and enforcement of NFPA 855 as of May 2025, to ensure higher safety standards for large-scale battery installations.
Similarly, U.S. states and municipalities are tightening safety codes for battery installations7, with some even passing moratoriums8 on high-risk chemistries pending more robust safety data. These developments reflect the growing recognition that battery safety is no longer just a technical question but a matter of public health, environmental responsibility, and economic viability.
As regulators raise the bar on safety, the shift toward inherently safe technologies is gaining momentum. Compliance now demands rigorous safety testing, transparent reporting, and tight control of flammable and hazardous materials. Evolving regulations also introduce added complexity and uncertainty. For manufacturers, distributors, and operators working with inherently risk-prone chemistries, the hidden costs of compliance and risk management are accumulating—and visibly.
The changing regulations are driving a more holistic approach to battery safety, aiming to not only prevent failures in the field, but also to minimize harm throughout the entire battery lifecycle. Zinc-ion batteries, with their non-flammable, non-toxic chemistry and natural thermal stability, are well-positioned, facing fewer regulatory hurdles and offering a long-term competitive advantage.
We’ve mentioned that conventional batteries like lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and lead-acid, which have become central to storage solutions, carry safety risks. While each technology offers certain benefits, such as high energy density, material availability, or recyclability, they also come with safety tradeoffs. As battery deployments scale across critical and sensitive applications, these risks become harder to ignore and more expensive to mitigate.
Lithium-ion batteries can be susceptible to thermal runaway—exothermic reactions triggered by incorrect operation, improper operating conditions, external heating, overcharging, or physical damage9—that can lead to uncontrolled fire propagation and the release of toxic gases10. This has been seen in numerous high-profile incidents, from fatal factory fires11 and electric vehicle (EV) blazes12 to warehouse13 and cargo ship explosions14. Since 2024 and as of May 2025, the EPRI Failure Incident Database has noted 28 high-profile fire incidents attributable to lithium-ion batteries15. Fires on board have become a major safety concern in the maritime sector, driven by the growing transport of lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles, with related insurance claims totaling €9.2 billion between 2017-202116. Moreover, water used to extinguish these fires becomes contaminated, potentially polluting soil and waterways17.
Adding to these challenges is that lithium-ion batteries typically contain many fluorinated components, for example, in the electrode binder or in the electrolyte salts. These can decompose into toxic gases. These fluorinated compounds often fall under the category of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), sometimes called “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and lack of biodegradability. As a result, the EU is advancing regulations that may restrict or ban PFAS as early as next year, further complicating the future design and deployment of lithium-ion technologies18.
As the perception of safety risk profile of lithium-ion batteries evolves, it is driving stricter safety regulations, higher insurance costs, and growing resistance from urban planners, some of whom have begun rejecting battery storage projects19.
Sodium-ion batteries are an emerging alternative, offering abundant material supply and lower cost. Although generally considered safer than lithium-ion counterparts20, sodium-ion electrolytes can still be flammable. In thermal runaway events, these batteries may emit toxic gases such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen fluoride (HF), jeopardizing both performance and safety21.
Beyond fire hazards, many common battery chemistries also present serious environmental and health risks22. Lead-acid batteries contain lead—a toxic metal that can contaminate communities if mishandled or improperly recycled—and corrosive electrolytes23. Several lead-acid battery recycling plants have faced shutdowns worldwide24, 25 due to pollution concerns and unsafe exposure levels.
Deploying these conventional batteries in safety-critical environments, such as hospitals, defense sites, mines, ships, ports, and densely populated areas, poses significant risks. Battery malfunctions can trigger fires, explosions, or toxic leaks. While these risks can be mitigated through layers of protective systems, the infrastructure required—fire suppression, thermal management, spacing, and specialized permitting—adds complexity, cost, and constraints to deployment.
As global battery demand surges, relying on chemistries that require constant risk management is neither scalable nor sustainable. The high costs and operational burdens of safety measures not only increase overall expenses but also limit the practical deployment of these batteries in safety-critical environments where reliability is essential. A safer energy transition depends on adopting inherently stable technologies that minimize hazards.
Enerpoly’s zinc-ion batteries offer a fundamentally safer approach to energy storage, made possible by their material composition and inherently stable design. Zinc-ion technology is built with non-flammable, non-toxic, fluorine-free, and thermally stable components. The electrolyte is water-based and does not support thermal runaway, combustion, or toxic gas evolution even at elevated temperatures.
The intrinsic safety of Enerpoly’s zinc-ion batteries brings key advantages across the entire battery lifecycle.
Intrinsic safety enables more than just safe operations. It reduces total cost of ownership and accelerates deployment and transforms safety from a regulatory obligation into a competitive advantage.
—Eloisa de Castro, CEO of Enerpoly
Safety remains a key concern in the adoption of energy storage and is increasingly recognized as essential for deployment in sectors and environments where conventional batteries are limited by safety-related risks. When safety is built into the battery itself—rather than added through costly mitigation measures—it becomes a powerful enabler, allowing energy storage to be used in settings that were previously off-limits due to technical, legal, or social constraints. These include areas with strict zoning regulations, space limitations, or increased public scrutiny.
Enerpoly’s inherently safe zinc-ion batteries address these challenges, expanding the range of viable applications and making energy storage possible in environments where traditional chemistries fall short.
In densely populated urban areas, where buildings are closely packed and evacuation routes are limited, the risk of battery-related incidents carries serious consequences. In these settings, an urban battery—one that is safe enough to be installed directly where people live—is necessary. Using fire-resistant and chemically stable batteries makes it feasible to integrate energy storage into residential and commercial infrastructure, supporting grid resilience while maintaining safety.
Commercial buildings and industrial sites often require high-capacity energy storage that ensures business continuity and protects employees, assets, and operations without introducing safety risks.
Some sectors—such as healthcare, marine, and mining—cannot tolerate safety compromises. Hospitals, clinics, and emergency response centers require backup power solutions that pose no concerns of fire or toxic exposure to patients and staff. Ships, offshore platforms, and mines operate in remote or hazardous environments and need energy storage systems that can withstand physical stress without compromising safety. Fire-resistant and chemically stable batteries reduce the risk of catastrophic failure, allowing for wider deployment in ships, platforms, and underground operations.
Inherently safe batteries provide utilities and developers with critical advantages by reducing safety risks that often limit deployment options. Enhanced safety allows for faster permitting, easier co-location with renewable energy projects, and access to sites with stricter regulations or closer to communities.
An often-overlooked advantage is noise mitigation. Many safety systems—like cooling units, ventilation, and suppression equipment—generate mechanical noise. This is a key concern preventing BESS deployments in sensitive environments, like Natura 2000 sites32, which protect valuable and threatened habitats across the EU. By reducing the need for auxiliary systems, safer batteries enable quieter, lower-impact installations, making them more suitable for noise-sensitive and protected locations.
We have seen safety considerations influencing procurement decisions. As Märta Nilsson from Enerpoly’s Strategy Team observed at ees Europe 2025, one recurring theme stood out:
With increasing public awareness and tightening regulations, safe battery technologies don’t just reduce risks, they unlock new possibilities for deployment, particularly in regions and sectors previously excluded due to safety constraints. Safe batteries support the transition toward resilient, distributed energy systems everywhere, for everyone.
With battery systems playing an increasingly vital role in our energy infrastructure, battery safety is now a fundamental requirement, not an afterthought. Across industries, stakeholders recognize that minimizing fire hazards, toxic exposure, and lifecycle costs is essential for wider adoption and building trust in energy storage solutions.
In a recent webinar hosted by EASE, a representative noted that today’s safety measures are considered standard for all BESS projects and thus, are not barriers to economic viability.
At Enerpoly, we believe it’s time to go further on safety to truly unlock scalable battery deployments. We challenge the assumption that batteries must be inherently hazardous and rely on external controls and systems to function safely. We are instead ensuring safety as intrinsic to the battery, engineering it directly with the materials used, the product design and manufacturing processes from the beginning. As we scale our zinc-ion battery megafactory and work with partners across sectors, our goal is to make safe, reliable energy storage widely accessible—so that the future we’re powering is not only sustainable, but secure.
If you're ready to explore how zinc-ion batteries can elevate your operations, request a pilot today and experience zinc-ion—the safe future of energy storage.
Safety is becoming a top priority in the energy transition. As battery storage scales across homes, industries, and critical infrastructure, the need for safer, regulation-ready solutions is growing—especially in environments where risks are not an option.
Safety is becoming a top priority in the energy transition. As battery storage scales across homes, industries, and critical infrastructure, the need for safer, regulation-ready solutions is growing—especially in environments where risks are not an option.
Enerpoly has been selected for Cohort #6 of the RESPOND Accelerator by the BMW Foundation, advancing sustainable innovation and responsible leadership in the energy transition.
Enerpoly has been selected for Cohort #6 of the RESPOND Accelerator by the BMW Foundation, advancing sustainable innovation and responsible leadership in the energy transition.
Collaboration to advance zinc-ion battery solutions for the rapidly growing global energy storage market, driven by the increased need for greater energy resilience.
Collaboration to advance zinc-ion battery solutions for the rapidly growing global energy storage market, driven by the increased need for greater energy resilience.
We believe everyone should have access to clean energy. Our sustainable, reliable and incredibly cost efficient batteries make the world just a little bit brighter.
