Battery Safety and Performance

"Battery energy storage systems (BESS) for data centers" In today's digital world, data centers are essential to support the ever-growing demand for online services and data processing. To enable that, it is vital that a continuous highly available and reliable clean energy supply is secured. This is addressed by integrated BESS and innovative digital solutions that enhance data center power infrastructure. BESS plays a dual role in this context: it stores surplus energy during low demand and it releases this energy during peak usage or grid outages. This enables peak shaving, backup power, and participation in demand response programs, ultimately reducing operational costs and increasing reliability. Combined, digital solutions provide real-time visibility into battery and power transformer health, facilitating predictive analytics for optimal performance. Future trends indicate advancements in battery technology, integration of renewable energy sources, expansion of edge computing, and convergence of digital technologies. Siemens Energy remains at the forefront, driving these advancements and transforming the data center power infrastructure landscape. More on this topic at: https://lnkd.in/dpeTki7T #bess #batteries #energystorage #datacenter #gridtechnologies #powersystems #digitaltransformation #innovation #sustainability #futuretech

“We are dialling down celebrating failure…otherwise we can’t drive accountability” 👀 I’ve heard this sentiment a few times in recent months. And it’s a subject that raises important questions about our performance-focused company cultures right now. It’s like psychological safety is seen as a tradeoff for accountability. As if the two can’t coexist. But the reality is, they are most powerful when they exist together. 📺 Amy Edmondson’s excellent TED talk (link in comments) illustrates this so well. Without psychological safety, accountability turns into anxiety. People are afraid to take risks, make mistakes, or even speak up. This stifles innovation and creativity. Employees work under constant stress, which can lead to burnout and disengagement. When people don’t feel safe, they’re less likely to admit mistakes or learn from them, hindering personal and business growth. On the flip side, without accountability, there's a risk that psychological safety can lead to complacency. If there are no standards or expectations, people may become too comfortable and stop pushing themselves or the company forward. It can result in a lack of focus, poor performance, and ultimately, stagnation. However, when both psychological safety and accountability coexist, we create an environment for: ☑ Learning ☑ Creativity ☑ Innovation ☑ Growth ☑ Motivation ☑ Wellbeing But scaling psychological safety can feel tricky. So, how do we build systems and structures that support this in rapidly growing teams? Here are some key areas to focus on: 1️⃣ Defined roles and responsibilities Ensure everyone understands their role and what is expected of them. Clarity reduces uncertainty and helps people feel secure in their tasks. 2️⃣ Embedded purpose, values and behaviours Clearly define and communicate your organisational values and expected behaviours. This sets a standard for how everyone should interact and contribute to a positive and trusting work environment. 3️⃣ Feedback mechanisms Implement regular and constructive feedback loops. This helps employees understand their performance and areas for improvement without fear of negative consequences. 4️⃣ Conflict resolution Establish effective conflict resolution processes. Addressing issues promptly and fairly ensures that conflicts don’t fester, damage the team dynamic or cause anxiety. 5️⃣ Recognition and rewards Acknowledge and reward not just successes, but also efforts and learning from failures. This reinforces a culture where people feel appreciated and motivated to keep trying. When we have these foundational elements in place psychological safety and accountability go hand in hand; ensuring failures are part of the learning journey, and accountability drives us towards delivering on our vision. We will be diving more into this subject at our panel event tomorrow. You can still join us by signing up via the link in the comments below 👇 #ScalingCulture #CultureDesign #SystemsDesign

A late-September 2025 data center fire in South Korea is a reminder that battery risk is now system-level risk. During routine maintenance, an aging lithium-ion battery triggered thermal runaway—leading to a fire that burned for ~22 hours and destroyed hundreds of battery modules. The impact went far beyond the facility: 647 government platforms went offline, including emergency services, forcing a shift to manual processes and causing nationwide disruption. Why these events are so difficult to manage: * Thermal runaway is self-propagating * Fires generate explosive gases and intense heat * Standard suppression often can’t prevent re-ignition But the more important takeaway is prevention and design: * Early detection (smoke + gas sensors) * Specialized suppression (water mist, clean agents, inert gases) * Proper room design (venting, separation) * Strong BMS + proactive replacement of aging cells * Adherence to standards (NFPA 855, UL 9540, FM DS 5-32) From a risk perspective, this is where things are shifting: These aren’t just equipment failures—they are high-severity, cascading events with systemic consequences. As data centers scale and rely more heavily on lithium-ion UPS and BESS, the question isn’t whether batteries are needed—it’s whether they are engineered, monitored, and maintained for failure. Because when they aren’t, a single cell failure can become a national outage.

A recent systematic review published in the Journal of Air Transport Management sheds light on the persistent safety challenges in general aviation, particularly among fixed-wing aircraft operations. Drawing from 46 peer-reviewed studies, the authors identify training deficiencies as a central and recurring factor in accident causation. The review highlights that pilots often meet the minimum legal requirements for flight currency, yet fall short of true proficiency, especially in emergency procedures and operations under low visibility conditions. Infrequent flying, limited exposure to complex scenarios, and gaps in recurrent training contribute to reduced skill retention and increased accident risk. To address this, the paper advocates for a more robust and targeted approach to pilot training. Regular practice with certified instructors, use of approved simulators, and integration of distance learning are recommended to reinforce both technical and non-technical competencies. Emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality are also flagged as promising tools to enhance engagement and improve learning outcomes. Ultimately, the study calls for a shift from reactive safety measures to proactive interventions, using data-driven insights and modern training methods to reduce accident rates and improve pilot performance across the general aviation sector. University of South Australia: Emma Sheffield, Seung-Yong Lee, Yahua (Shane) Zhang https://lnkd.in/gCcerima

It's always a privilege to connect with safety professionals across borders. While I couldn't make it to France for this team health and safety forum, technology allowed me to contribute remotely from Perth to colleagues in Reims. After sharing an educational overview of emerging technologies in workplace safety, the team ultimately synthesized their own insights. These four key takeaways reflect common challenges and opportunities that safety professionals worldwide are grappling with: 1. Problem-Led, Not Solution-Led Approach Define your challenge before exploring technology. Ask "How might we solve this problem?" rather than "How can we use AI?" Clear problem statements prevent solutions searching for problems. 2. Early Involvement is Essential Safety professionals must join technology conversations from the start, not after decisions are made. Challenge your suppliers about their innovation roadmaps and collaborate on solutions that fit your operational context. 3. Trust and Culture Come First Technology adoption depends on organisational readiness and worker trust. People need to understand how technology will be used and feel confident it won't be used against them. Start with trust-building use cases before moving to more 'sensitive' implementations. 4. Human Oversight Remains Critical AI can reduce administrative burden and support better decisions, but humans must maintain critical oversight. Technology should augment human capability, not replace human judgment. The goal is making people more effective, not removing them from safety-critical decisions. The key lesson: technology experimentation in safety must be strategic and human-centered. Success should be about thoughtful integration that serves people and improves work design that in turn creates business value. #safetytech #safetyinnovation

Across industries, a growing divide is becoming impossible to ignore. Leadership is accelerating investment in AI, automation, and transformation agendas. Meanwhile, EHS teams are being expected to maintain or improve safety performance with 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲. This is not efficiency. This is structural imbalance. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 • Treating 𝗘𝗛𝗦 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺 instead of an operational foundation • Cutting 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 while expecting stable or better outcomes • Reducing EHS to 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Excluding safety teams from 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 • Using technology as a 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 instead of a capability builder • Prioritizing short term savings over 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 • Growing gap between 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 • EHS teams pushed into 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲 • Weakening of 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 • Declining 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Rising 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 • 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, not overhead • Build EHS into 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, not after them • Protect 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 even during budget pressure • Use technology to 𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, not replace expertise • Bring frontline workers into 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 • Measure what truly matters through 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, not only incident counts The future will not belong to organizations that cut safety to the minimum required level. It will belong to those that understand this: 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀. #EHS #WorkplaceSafety #SafetyLeadership #RiskManagement #OperationalExcellence #SafetyCulture #HSE #Compliance #IndustrialSafety #Leadership #BusinessResilience #RiskPrevention #OperationalRisk #FutureOfWork #SafetyStrategy

From Strategy to Execution: Understanding the Structure of Effective HSE Leadership Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) management is not just about compliance — it is about building a structured system where strategy, leadership, execution, and reporting work together to create safer workplaces and sustainable operations. The framework pictures shows a clear hierarchy of responsibility, demonstrating how successful HSE organizations align leadership vision with daily operational practices. 👉 1. Strategic Direction Starts at the Top The HSE Director / general manger plays a critical role in setting the foundation by focusing on: ✅ Governance and alignment with standards ✅ Building a strong safety culture through leadership ✅ Performance monitoring and sustainability goals ✅ Strategic partnerships, audits, and community engagement This level ensures that safety is integrated into organizational strategy rather than treated as a separate function. 👉 2. The HSE Manager: Turning Strategy into Systems At the management level, strategy becomes actionable through: 📌 Planning — HSE plans, emergency response, and risk assessment (HIRADC) 📌 Organizing — resource allocation and committee coordination 📌 Leading — directing teams and managing investigations 📌 Controlling — audits, KPI tracking, and SOP reviews This layer bridges vision and execution by translating policies into structured workflows. 👉 3. The HSE Supervisor / officer: Where Safety Happens Daily Supervisors drive real-world safety outcomes through: 🔧 Field support and toolbox talks 🛠 Safety execution including permits, inspections, and PPE checks 🎓 Training and awareness such as inductions, drills, and hazard education 📊 Accurate reporting and documentation Without strong supervision, even the best strategies remain theoretical. 💡 Key Insight: Effective HSE performance depends on alignment across all levels — strategic leadership, structured management, and disciplined frontline execution. When each layer understands its role and communicates effectively, organizations reduce risks, improve compliance, and strengthen safety culture.

How Solid-State Batteries Are Transforming Data Centers Data centers are the backbone of our digital world, but their massive energy demands and reliance on traditional battery technologies present challenges. Enter solid-state batteries—a game-changing innovation that could redefine energy storage in data centers. Why Solid-State Batteries? Unlike lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte, offering: - Higher Energy Density: More power in less space—perfect for maximizing server capacity. - Enhanced Safety: No flammable liquids, reducing fire risks. - Longer Lifespan: Fewer replacements and lower maintenance costs. - Faster Charging: Quick response to power fluctuations. - Sustainability: Reduced environmental impact with fewer toxic materials and longer life cycles. Applications in Data Centers 1. Backup Power Systems: Replace outdated UPS batteries with safer, more reliable options. 2. Edge Computing: Compact, efficient energy storage for decentralized hubs. 3. Renewable Energy Integration: Stabilize solar/wind power to support green initiatives. Challenges Ahead While promising, solid-state batteries face hurdles like high production costs and scalability. However, as technology advances, these barriers are likely to diminish. The Bigger Picture Solid-state batteries aren’t just an upgrade—they’re a step toward more sustainable, resilient data centers. By adopting this tech, operators can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and meet net-zero goals. What’s your take? How do you see solid-state batteries shaping the future of data centers? Let’s discuss in the comments! Connect with me to share your thoughts or learn more about sustainable tech innovations. 💡🔋 #DataCenters #Sustainability #SolidStateBatteries #EnergyStorage #Innovation #GreenTech #NetZeroGoals #TechTrends #FutureOfEnergy #ClimateAction #BackupPower #EdgeComputing #CloudComputing #DataCenterEfficiency #CleanEnergy #ThoughtLeadership #SustainableFuture #GreenInitiatives #EcoFriendly #Scalability #BatteryTechnology #RenewableEnergy

Google deploys 100 million Li-ion cells in its global data centers Company switched from lead-acid to Li-ion in 2015 Summary: Google has deployed over 100 million Lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells across its global data centers since transitioning from lead-acid batteries in 2015. The switch to Li-ion Backup Battery Units (BBUs) has enhanced power availability, efficiency, and lifespan for Google Cloud data centers, reducing the number of batteries needed to just a quarter of the previous footprint. Li-ion cells offer twice the life, twice the power, and half the volume compared to lead-acid batteries. Key Highlights: Safety Measures: Li-ion batteries pose risks of thermal runaway if mishandled, which has led to fires at data centers in the past, such as the 2022 SK Group incident in Korea and the 2024 fire at a Digital Realty center in Singapore. To mitigate these risks, Google employs the UL9540A thermal runaway test method for safety certification, enabling its BBUs to receive permits even in regions with strict regulations, including APAC. Technical Advantages: Google uses a 48V DC rack power system with integrated BBUs, minimizing power conversion losses and ensuring continuous uptime. The distributed UPS architecture limits failure impact to a single rack, eliminating intermediate failure points and reducing the blast radius in case of incidents. Efficiency Gains: The switch to Li-ion BBUs has significantly improved efficiency by reducing the intermediate AC/DC power conversion steps and maximizing direct power delivery. Google's 48V Onboard Power Solution specification is shared publicly via the Open Compute Project to promote best practices. Conclusion: The transition to Li-ion BBUs has been a cornerstone of Google’s data center power strategy, balancing higher power density and efficiency with stringent safety protocols to ensure uninterrupted operations. #DataCenters #GoogleCloud #LithiumIonBatteries #Sustainability #PowerManagement #DataCenterEfficiency #BatterySafety #EnergyStorage #OpenComputeProject

Psychological safety has a branding problem. It does not mean lower standards. For years, I've watched leaders hear the term and assume it means making people comfortable, reducing pressure, or lowering the bar for performance. That's not what the research says. One of the most useful frameworks from Amy Edmondson's work is built around a simple idea: psychological safety and accountability are not opposing forces. The highest-performing teams require both. When psychological safety is low and accountability is low, people disengage. Expectations are unclear, difficult conversations are avoided, and performance drifts because very little is being asked of anyone. When accountability is high and psychological safety is low, a different pattern emerges. Standards remain high, but people become increasingly cautious about admitting mistakes, challenging assumptions, or raising concerns. The pressure to perform exists alongside a reluctance to take interpersonal risks. When psychological safety is high and accountability is low, teams often enjoy working together, but learning slows because there is little challenge, stretch, or pressure to improve. The strongest teams operate somewhere else entirely. Amy Edmondson describes this as the Learning Zone: an environment where people are expected to perform at a high level and are equally expected to ask questions, surface concerns, admit mistakes, and learn in public. That's an important distinction because many organizations unknowingly optimize for only one side of the equation. They focus on accountability and create anxiety. Or they focus on safety and create comfort. Neither produces the conditions required for sustained performance. The teams that learn fastest, adapt best, and navigate uncertainty most effectively tend to combine high standards with an environment where people can challenge, question, and contribute without fear of damaging their credibility. Psychological safety was never about lowering expectations. It was about creating the conditions for people to meet higher ones. ➕ Follow Ashley Munday for insights on leadership, vital teams, and how to turn strategy into coordinated action.