Is the Narrabri Community Battery Safe? Here's What You Need to Know

When it comes to new technology like community batteries, it’s natural to have questions—especially about safety. At Geni.Energy, we take these questions seriously. That’s why we’ve worked with one of Australia’s most trusted battery partners, EVO Power, to make sure the Narrabri Community Battery meets the highest safety standards.

Here’s a simple breakdown of how the system works—and why we’re confident it’s one of the safest battery setups in the country.

🔋 What Kind of Community Battery Is It?

The Narrabri battery uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. This type of battery is widely known as the safest lithium-ion battery available today. It’s more stable than other types of lithium batteries and is less likely to overheat or catch fire.

The battery units themselves are made by CATL, one of the world’s most respected battery manufacturers. They’re built with smart design features that stop heat from building up, including:

• Prismatic cell design (to avoid pressure build-up)

• Gas release vents

• Heat and smoke detectors

• Fire suppression aerosols

• Advanced monitoring software

🧯 But What If Something Goes Wrong?

While the chance of a fire is very low, EVO doesn’t take any risks. The system is constantly monitored—24 hours a day, 7 days a week—using a digital portal. That means technicians are alerted immediately if anything looks unusual.

Here’s what’s in place to keep the battery safe:

✅ Temperature sensors monitor every module inside the battery. 

✅ The system has heat and smoke detectors built in. 

✅ There’s a special panel to release gases safely if pressure builds up. 

✅ Fire suppression equipment is inside the battery cabinet. 

✅ If needed, the system can even send an alert directly to the local fire department. 

✅ And if all else fails, the system will shut itself down automatically at the first sign of trouble.

This “layered approach” means there are multiple protections in place. If one part doesn’t work, the next one will take over.

🔬 Battery Tested to the Highest Standards

To back up these safety claims, the battery system has passed extensive fire testing known as UL 9540A—an international gold standard for battery safety.

Here’s how it works:

• Engineers intentionally trigger a battery failure, called “thermal runaway”, to see if it leads to fire or spreads to other parts of the battery.

• For this battery system, the failure did not result in a fire, and the issue stayed completely contained inside one small module.

• The test was repeated at both the module level and the full unit (rack) level—and it passed every time and is certified as passing.

This means that even in a worst-case scenario, the fire would not spread beyond its smallest section. That’s important, because it shows the problem can be stopped before it becomes dangerous.

💧 Kept Cool, Even in Hot Weather

In Narrabri, we know how extreme the weather can be. That’s why these batteries are also equipped with liquid cooling systems to keep them at the ideal temperature, no matter the weather outside. They’re sealed in IP65-rated enclosures—meaning they’re protected from dust and water, too.

The temperature management system is also monitored in real time. If the temperature inside the battery starts to climb, the system triggers an alert so action can be taken straight away.

🚗 Built Tough to Withstand Cars and Floods

Because the battery is located in a public car park, we’ve taken extra precautions to prevent any accidental damage from vehicles and to protect it from flooding. The Narrabri Community Battery is mounted on four concrete culverts, raising it 900mm off the ground. This not only reduces the risk of water damage but also keeps it well out of the way of passing cars. A steel post and rail barrier surrounds the platform for added protection, and two sets of steps allow technicians to safely access the battery for regular maintenance. The battery itself—about the size of four large fridges—is also set back from the edge, with up to 1.2 metres of buffer space, helping ensure it stays safe and secure in all conditions.

This is a largely inaccurate AI depiction of the battery including a brutalisation of the beautiful artwork by Zac Craig! But it helps to show the scale and gives a rough idea of the look.

🔥 What About Bushfires?

The only real risk outside our control is from external fires, like bushfires. While the battery system can protect itself from internal issues, it’s important to reduce the fire risk in the surrounding area. That is why we think the Town Hall Carpark is ideal.

🧠 Smart and Safe – By Design

All in all, the Narrabri Community Battery has been carefully designed, built, tested, and monitored to make sure it’s safe for our town.

• It uses the safest battery chemistry available

• It’s made by global leaders in battery manufacturing

• It’s passed the most rigorous international fire safety tests

• It’s monitored 24/7 by professionals

• And it’s maintained annually on-site by trained technicians

We’re proud of how seriously EVO Power and Geni.Energy take safety. This battery isn’t just about storing clean energy—it’s also about giving the community peace of mind.

📣 Want to Know More?

If you'd like to see the safety certificates, fire test reports, or technical specs—we’re happy to share! We're committed to transparency and building trust in this exciting project.