Energy Risk Engineering

Forty years in plants, claims, and the events that didn't happen.

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BESS / StorageNov 3, 2026

Two big battery makers pass the tougher large-scale fire test

SK On said on Oct 28 that its battery storage container passed a large-scale fire test. The test requirements were made stricter in March 2026. Sungrow said on Oct 22 that its PowerTitan 3.0 passed a large-scale fire test run by UL Solutions under the latest requirements. In both tests, thermal runaway did not spread to the next container. Underwriters should ask two things. Was the project's fire test done under the 2026 rules? Does the spacing in the test match the spacing as built? Sources: SK On; Energy Global.

Photo: UniEnergy Technologies, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

RenewablesNov 3, 2026

Hail is now the costliest renewables peril in North America

A new Tokio Marine GX report says utility-scale solar now makes up 80 to 90 percent of yearly extreme-weather losses. Hail claims average about $9.1 million each. The report also warns that business interruption cover of 12 to 18 months falls short when one transformer outage can last three years. Risk managers should check whether solar sites can stow panels for hail. They should also check whether BI periods and spare-parts plans match real transformer lead times. Source: Renewable Energy Magazine.

Photo: Chris Allan, U.S. Department of Energy, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Power / MarketNov 3, 2026

NERC adopts its first reliability standards for data center loads

NERC's board adopted its first standards for connecting large computer loads, such as data centers. They now go to FERC for approval. Data center owners will need to supply verified models of their sites. They will also need to coordinate how sites ride through or drop off during grid disturbances. That changes the risk picture for both the utility and the data center. Source: NERC.

Photo: Hugovanmeijeren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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