e-STORAGE, a division of the Company’s majority-owned subsidiary CSI Solar Co., Ltd., has successfully finished Large-Scale Fire Testing (LSFT) for its SolBank 3.0 energy storage system, according to a statement released by Canadian Solar Inc.. By keeping heat incidents contained within a single enclosure, the successful test showed that SolBank 3.0 satisfies important fire safety requirements and offers increased safety assurance for utility-scale installations.
The test was performed in accordance with the CSA C-800:25 §9.7 Large-Scale Fire Testing (LSFT) procedure, a strict and industry-accepted standard for assessing the impact of a fully established fire situation within an initiating BESS unit’s enclosure on the danger of propagation across neighboring enclosures. All of the target units’ doors, louvers, and structural components stayed closed and undamaged during the test. Key safety goals specified in NFPA 855, including limiting fire to a single unit and preventing cascade thermal events, are met by the approach.
The resilience of SolBank 3.0’s passive fire containment design was confirmed during the test when e-STORAGE’s SolBank 3.0 energy storage system passed the LSFT and demonstrated no fire propagation to target units.
Both the testing organization, CSA Group, and a fire safety expert, Energy Safety Response Group (ESRG), saw and independently confirmed the test.
Josh Dinaburg, Fire Test Specialist at CSA Group, commented, “Key stakeholders in the energy storage industry have raised justifiable concerns about the ability of BESS to limit the spread of fire between units without relying on complex extinguishing systems or putting first responders at risk. The e-STORAGE system demonstrated that an aggressive fire consuming all available fuel in one unit does not ignite new fires and spread to adjacent units. This is critical performance data for the end-users and site managers, first responders, insurance adjusters, and the community at large where these systems may be installed.”
Colin Parkin, President of e-STORAGE, stated, “Successfully completing the Large-Scale Fire Testing reinforces our high standard on system safety. At the same time, it once again positions e-STORAGE as a leader in delivering safe, scalable energy storage solutions—across products, projects, and markets—and our continued commitment to go beyond industry standards for operation safety.”
