According to UL Standards & Engagement, two flights per week on average experienced a thermal runaway incident in 2024. In an overhead bin, in the cargo area below or, even worse, in the seat pocket right in front of a passenger’s legs, the so-called thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery pack inside a computer or other device can quickly heat up to a temperature that would easily melt aluminum.

That’s why airlines are so cautious about passengers having lithium-ion batteries in carry-on bags or checked luggage. 

It’s also why flight attendants are now equipped with a set of insulated mitts to grab a burning device and a specially designed fire containment bag to envelop it.

For the past decade, building owners and managers have also become increasingly aware of the potential hazards in relying on lithium-ion battery systems for backup power.

We recently discovered a one-of-a-kind battery energy storage system (BESS) with an answer to that concern, pioneered by Viridi Parente Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.

A BESS for a commercial building today will include hundreds of small individual lithium-ion cells that have been assembled into modules connected in series or parallel and further grouped into packs which comprise a particular size unit. These BESS units will also include a battery management system that monitors its health and activity, along with components to enable charging and discharge.

But despite all the advantages that lithium­-ion cells have to offer, they always hold the possibility—however minimal it might be—for a thermal runaway. Viridi Parente Inc. Buffalo, N.Y., has developed a fail-safe solution to prevent the thermal runaway in an individual cell from spreading to adjoining cells within a BESS unit. 

Viridi BESS units can be installed inside buildings without the prohibitively excessive cost of constructing specially designed fireproof chambers to safely contain them. 

We sat down with Eric Stein, president of Viridi, to learn more.

We have been preaching to our readers that offering “complete electrical maintenance” now must include providing on-site power sources in their existing customers’ facilities. Viridi’s BESS units can make a great contribution to fulfilling that strategy.

It is definitely a new tool for electrical contractors. When you can put energy storage in or around the building, you not only provide resilience, but an energy management tool that lowers utility bills, improves power quality and increases capacity in power constrained areas. 

It’s not hard to imagine how service-oriented electrical contractors could make BESS units sized to fit most U.S. commercial buildings part of a recipe for retrofitting new customers’ facilities.

Our products are modular and can be sized to the needs of any building. They are a great alternative for buildings with existing generators. The installation is remarkably straightforward, and we have designed our product so that the install is analogous to the installation of a generator. 

Although at first glance we might think of these merely as standby sources of electricity, their capabilities are far greater. BESS can be integral to a brand-new approach to energy management, especially as electric utility rates continue to skyrocket.

Energy costs along with demand charges are rising quickly. Truly distributed energy storage allows you to load shift and shave peaks to significantly reduce costs. The economics are way more compelling than owning a generator. You can get a mid-20% return on a Viridi energy storage asset compared to a generator, which represents a “sunk cost” and does nothing to allow you to deftly manage your ongoing power needs.

Alessandro Volta is credited with inventing the battery in 1800. It inspired further invention in electricity and other fields throughout the 19th century. How do you see Viridi’s BESS fitting in to the scope of such breakthroughs?

We think Viridi’s product is unique. It is both energy-dense and fail-safe. Those are two “must-haves” if you are going to be inside or adjacent to commercial buildings. Over time, the complexity of power management is going to increase materially. Our system, which includes remote connectivity and data analysis, gives you a safe, intelligent tool to navigate this complexity.

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