Energy storage building caught fire

What happened at the largest battery storage plant in Northern California?

A massive fire broke out Thursday afternoon at the world’s largest battery storage plants in Northern California, prompting evacuations and the closure of part of Highway 1. The blaze erupted at the Moss Landing Power Plant, which holds tens of thousands of lithium batteries used for storing solar power.

What happened at Moss Landing energy storage facility?

The fire started the afternoon of 16 January, burning through a concrete building full of lithium batteries at the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in Monterey county, California. Other buildings on the site, including more battery storage facilities and a natural gas plant, were not affected.

Did Vistra Energy's Moss Landing energy storage facility catch fire?

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this article. The 300 MW first phase of Vistra Energy's Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in California caught fire Thursday afternoon.

Why are energy storage facilities important?

Energy storage facilities like this one are essential for power grids to be able to keep enough excess solar and wind energy so it’s available when the sun goes down and winds wane. This isn’t the first battery fire in the area. A nearby Pacific Gas & Electric battery plant stocked with Tesla batteries caught fire back in 2022.

How did Vistra's Energy-Storage Project turn into a Towering Inferno?

Vistra’s flagship energy-storage project in California turned into a towering inferno, forcing evacuations and raising fresh concerns about large battery installations. Flames erupted at Moss Landing Power Plant on Thursday along California's Pacific Coast Highway north of Monterey Bay. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

What caused the California battery fire?

The cause of the fire is not known, but local authorities have reported that much of the building that housed the batteries was destroyed as of Friday morning. That makes this by far the most destructive of the four battery fires that have afflicted the small coastal town since it became a linchpin in California’s clean energy overhaul.