Harnessing the Flow of Energy: A Taoist Reflection on Grid-Based Battery Systems and the Moss Landing Fire
By Toby Corey, former CRO at Tesla’s Energy Group and lifelong innovator
In the realm where technology meets nature, balance is not merely a goal—it is the natural order. My career, which has spanned pioneering roles at Tesla, Cruz Foam, 11-year Stanford Entrepreneur Lecture, and beyond, has taught me that progress is best achieved when innovation flows in harmony with sustainability. Drawing inspiration from Taoist principles—embracing both the fullness and the emptiness, the strength and the vulnerability—I offer a reflection on grid-based Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and the critical lessons learned from the recent Moss Landing fire.
The Essential Role of Grid-Based BESS
Grid-based BESS are the silent reservoirs that store the latent potential of renewable energy. When well-designed and managed, they:
Store Unused Renewable Energy: Much like the Tao, which finds strength in what is often unseen, BESS captures and preserves renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted.
Reduce CO₂ Emissions: By storing excess energy and discharging later, these systems contribute to a cleaner atmosphere, echoing nature’s inherent drive toward balance.
Enhance Grid Resiliency and Enable Arbitrage: Just as water flows effortlessly, BESS allows energy to be redirected where it is needed most, reducing the need for additional generation investments.
Promote Cost-Efficiency: With fewer investments in generation, we nurture an economically and environmentally sustainable system.
Yet, the lack of transparency in reporting BESS performance and safety is unacceptable. When ratepayers—through utilities like PGE—ultimately underwrite the revenue, there must be a corresponding openness in managing these systems. We must shine a light on every corner of our energy ecosystem, ensuring communities understand the promise of renewable energy and the risks involved.
Harnessing Technology for Safety and Insight
In our modern age, artificial intelligence offers a path to clarity. By integrating AI for critical site monitoring, we can assess the frequency and consequences of system failures. This technological vigilance is akin to the Taoist concept of being aware of the subtle natural shifts—anticipating changes before they become disruptive. Continuous, cloud-based remote monitoring, AI-driven early warning systems, and regular thermal imaging inspections are essential tools that can predict potential failures before they occur, allowing for proactive rather than reactive measures.
Lessons from the Moss Landing Fire
The recent events at Moss Landing underscore the importance of robust design and focused oversight. On initial glance and available data, several factors contributed to the severity of the fire:
Inadequate Certification (UL 9540): The current specifications and certifications fall short, leaving systems vulnerable.
Battery Chemistry Concerns: Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries, while energy-dense, carry a higher thermal runaway risk compared to their lower-density Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) counterparts.
Outdated Infrastructure: The facility, housed within a 1950 building and a repurposed turbine hall, lacked modern compartmentalization and fire suppression measures, making containment of the fire exceptionally challenging.
Design Flaws and Suppression System Failures: Previous incidents, including inadequate fire suppression systems where water-based solutions inadvertently triggered short circuits and overheating, point to systemic issues in operational and maintenance practices.
Programming and Monitoring Errors: A programming error led to the premature activation of the fire suppression system, exposing batteries to water and triggering short circuits. Additionally, an inadequate Battery Management System (BMS) failed to detect early warning signs that could have prompted automated containment actions.
To prevent such tragedies in the future, we must:
Design better systems with high-performing AI Monitoring and faster troubleshooting.
Integrate Thermal Barriers: Introduce barriers between battery racks to impede fire spread.
Enhance Monitoring Protocols: Employ AI-driven early warning systems and cloud-based remote monitoring to detect degradation and potential failures.
Establish Robust Shutdown Protocols: Clear procedures to prevent cascading failures during incidents.
Implement Regular Inspections: Monthly testing and thermal imaging inspections to ensure that safety systems function as intended.
A Call for “Smart” Proactive Oversight
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) must embrace a more proactive stance to ensure the safety of BESS installations. Self-regulation by developers is no longer sufficient. Stronger regulations, improved permitting processes, and real-time monitoring are necessary to hold utilities accountable and safeguard communities.
As the Tao teaches, nature does not force but gently guides systems into balance. By mandating higher standards and comprehensive oversight, we can ensure that energy flow remains harmonious—a balance between innovation and caution, opportunity and responsibility.
In Conclusion
Our journey in clean energy innovation mirrors the timeless dance of the Tao: a continuous, evolving process of letting go, expanding, and flowing with the natural rhythm of the world. By embracing transparency, leveraging advanced technology, and instituting rigorous safety measures, we can honor our pursuit of progress and the inherent balance that sustains life.
In this convergence of technology and nature, the lessons of Moss Landing serve as both a cautionary tale and a call to action—a reminder that when vision meets purpose, sustainable change is not only possible but inevitable.