Viridi and Soteria demonstrate breakthrough "No Heat Zone" lithium-ion battery technology, preventing thermal runaway and enhancing safety.
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| FDNY experts and industry leaders witness Viridi's "No Heat Zone" technology, highlighting a new era of safe lithium-ion battery storage. Image: Viridi |
BUFFALO, N.Y., USA- May 15, 2025:
Viridi, an industry frontrunner in fail-safe battery energy storage systems (BESS), in collaboration with Soteria Battery Innovation Group, hosted a compelling live demonstration event, aptly named "The No Heat Zone: Battery Storage Redefined," at Viridi's 42-acre Renewable Energy Center of Excellence in Buffalo. The event drew a national audience of industry pioneers, first responders, and safety officials, all keen to observe a significant leap forward in battery safety technology.
The demonstration featured a powerful series of live battery burn tests, insightful keynote addresses delivered by safety authorities from the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), hands-on tours of the cutting-edge facility, and in-depth explorations of next-generation anti-propagation battery technologies. These advanced technologies are specifically engineered to eliminate the dangerous phenomenon of thermal runaway, which stands as the primary catalyst for hazardous lithium-ion battery fires.
The central focus of the event was the live and compelling demonstration of Viridi's innovative fail-safe BESS. This groundbreaking system successfully endured intentionally induced thermal challenges without any instance of flame propagation. This pivotal demonstration effectively showcased the unique and critical ability of Viridi's technology to contain a battery failure at the individual cell level, thereby preventing the dangerous cascading failures that can lead to system-wide risk and significant safety hazards.
During the demonstration, two standard battery packs lacking any anti-propagation features were intentionally pushed into a state of thermal runaway. As anticipated, the initial cell failure rapidly triggered a dangerous cell-to-cell propagation, resulting in the uncontrolled and hazardous spread of heat throughout the entire battery module.
In stark contrast, Viridi subjected one of its own meticulously engineered battery packs, featuring proprietary thermal isolation and advanced anti-propagation barriers, to the identical intentional failure scenario. The result was a complete and immediate containment of the incident. The thermal event remained strictly and safely isolated to the initially compromised cell, with absolutely no secondary reactions or propagation to any adjacent cells. This powerful, real-time demonstration unequivocally validated the effectiveness and reliability of Viridi's inherent passive safety architecture.
"Today wasn't just about showing what's possible—it was about proving it," declared Jon M. Williams, CEO of Viridi. "These tests powerfully demonstrate the effectiveness of our design in limiting thermal events to a single point of origin. We are establishing a new, higher standard for battery safety, one that allows clean energy to scale safely and without any compromise. If the goal is to integrate energy storage into densely populated, occupied spaces, our technology provides the pathway—without resorting to shortcuts."
The urgent need for such advanced battery safety solutions is underscored by the rapidly increasing prevalence of lithium-ion batteries in a vast array of applications, ranging from personal e-bikes to large-scale commercial buildings. In 2024 alone, New York City recorded an alarming 277 lithium-ion battery-related fires, a number that continues its upward trajectory. This growing volume of incidents starkly highlights the critical and immediate need for next-generation battery technologies that prioritize inherent safety through innovative design, moving beyond traditional and often reactive fire suppression methods.
"Viridi's technology is a true game-changer in the battery safety landscape," affirmed Brian Morin, CEO of Soteria Battery Innovation Group. "While battery fires are statistically rare, their very nature—unpredictable, immediate, and intensely energetic—carries significant and unacceptable risk. Viridi's technology dramatically reduces this risk profile, paving the way for the widespread adoption of much safer energy storage solutions across all the diverse applications that enhance our daily lives."
Attendees at the impactful event also had the invaluable opportunity to hear firsthand insights from esteemed FDNY safety leaders John Cassidy and John Orlando. They emphasized the paramount importance of rigorously testing new safety technologies under realistic, real-world conditions and underscored the urgent need to bring these fail-safe solutions to the forefront of building codes, infrastructure planning, and emergency response protocols.
"When it comes to battery fires, every single second counts, and every layer of safety implemented truly matters," emphasized Lt. John Cassidy of the FDNY. "I am pleased to support the safety and education of first responders by sharing my firsthand experiences in responding to lithium-ion battery incidents in New York City."
Viridi's groundbreaking battery technology is already being implemented in a variety of demanding and sensitive environments, including commercial and municipal buildings, manufacturing facilities, and high-traffic areas where the inherent risks associated with traditional battery systems have previously been a significant barrier to adoption. Notably, unlike conventional systems, Viridi's innovative solution requires no additional HVAC, specialized fire suppression systems, or costly and disruptive construction retrofits, representing a significant breakthrough for both project costs and ease of code compliance.
With national attention increasingly focused on the potential and significant risks associated with battery fires in both stationary and mobile applications, "The No Heat Zone" demonstration signifies a critical and hopeful turning point in how the industry approaches the development and widespread deployment of scalable, sustainable, and, most importantly, inherently safe energy storage solutions for the future.