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New National Standard Implemented

China's energy storage safety enters an era of stringent regulation.

       China's first mandatory national standard in the energy storage field— GB 44240-2024 "Safety Requirements for Lithium Batteries and Battery Packs Used in Energy Storage Systems" Effective August 1, 2025.

This is China’s first mandatory national standard specifically tailored for lithium batteries and battery packs used in energy storage systems, elevating the safety requirements for grid-scale lithium batteries from a "recommended" to a "mandatory" level. It fills a critical regulatory gap in the renewable energy sector and holds significant importance for the safe development of the energy storage industry.

GB 44240 is currently the industry-recognized national standard for the highest-level energy storage safety, applicable to lithium batteries and battery packs used in energy storage systems. These systems find applications in areas such as telecommunications, central emergency lighting and alarm systems, stationary engine starting, photovoltaic systems, and large-scale energy storage solutions. The standard outlines safety requirements and testing methods covering electrical safety, environmental safety, thermal runaway, and the prevention of thermal runaway propagation for lithium batteries and battery packs.

In energy storage systems, frequent safety incidents have become a major obstacle to industry development. Many safety accidents at electrochemical energy storage plants are essentially triggered by thermal runaway caused by lithium battery overcharging, overheating, or mechanical damage—resulting in the rapid release of toxic and flammable gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide within seconds, which can then lead to fires or even explosions.

Lithium-battery fires are highly concealed and spread rapidly, often triggering conventional detectors only after the fire has already escalated—missing the critical window for effective rescue efforts. Therefore, enhancing the timeliness and accuracy of energy-storage safety monitoring has become urgently necessary, and the application of sensor technology is emerging as a key breakthrough in addressing this challenge.

02/

The Cornerstone of Security

Sensors "safeguard" the energy storage system.

The sensor, acting as the "sentinel" for energy storage safety monitoring, can instantly detect changes in various parameters within the energy storage system, providing crucial data support for early warning and protection measures. In the initial stage of thermal runaway in lithium batteries, sensors can monitor shifts in multiple physical quantities, enabling proactive risk assessment and buying valuable time for automatic fire suppression and timely evacuation of personnel.

       Temperature Detection: When a battery experiences thermal runaway, its temperature rises significantly. By strategically placing temperature sensors within the battery pack module, operators can closely monitor the thermal conditions. If the temperature spikes unexpectedly—exceeding the normal operating range—it could signal the onset of thermal runaway. By setting appropriate temperature thresholds, the system can promptly trigger an alert once the temperature reaches or surpasses these limits, enabling maintenance personnel to take immediate action.

        Gas Detection: During thermal runaway in lithium batteries, various gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide are released. Gas sensors can detect early signs of battery pack abnormalities by monitoring changes in the concentrations of these gases.

        Flame Detection: When thermal runaway progresses to a certain extent, open flames may occur. A flame sensor detects the presence of open flames by identifying specific wavelengths of light emitted from the fire. Compared to temperature and gas sensors, flame sensors are specifically designed for rapid response to already existing flames, providing an immediate signal that triggers the activation of fire suppression systems.

       Multi-parameter fusion detection: A single sensor has limitations when monitoring energy storage safety, whereas a multi-sensor-based data-fusion monitoring system—combining data from multiple sensors—can significantly enhance the reliability and accuracy of monitoring. By comprehensively analyzing diverse data sets, the system can more precisely identify battery thermal runaway conditions, minimize false alarms, and effectively reduce the risk of undetected thermal runaway events.

03/

National standards implemented

Sensor technology paves the way for a new future of energy storage safety.

The implementation of the GB 44240-2024 standard not only clearly defines the safety baseline for the energy storage industry, but also marks a crucial step in solidifying the foundation of safety within China’s energy transition strategy.

Sensor technology, as the core of energy storage safety monitoring, continues to innovate and evolve—driving not only the stable operation of individual energy storage projects but also profoundly shaping the sustainable development landscape of the renewable energy industry.

As new technologies such as liquid-cooled supercharging and solid-state batteries are scaled up and implemented, in the future, the deep integration of sensor technology with artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things will drive the security system toward continuous evolution—enabling precise sensing, intelligent decision-making, and comprehensive lifecycle management!