Electrochemical Safety Research Institute
Advancing safer design and deployment of energy storage and energy generation through science
We conduct fundamental scientific research to understand the safety and performance of energy technologies. Through our discovery-driven research, we innovate, test, model, and lay the foundation for electrochemical energy storage that is reliable and safe.
In recent years, renewable energy technologies have emerged as one of the highest priority solutions to climate change. But they also present very real risks; for example, key chemicals inside lithium-ion batteries pose life-threatening harm if they aren’t manufactured, stored, and recycled correctly. Our scientists explore the safety and performance limits of storage batteries and other renewable energy technologies and investigate how we can overcome those limits safely.
Our scientific research helps everyone in the energy storage and battery value chain ─ from cell and battery manufacturers, suppliers, original equipment manufacturers, recyclers, shippers, and consumers ─ understand the various safety issues associated with batteries in various applications, including electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. Knowledge and awareness about potential hazards associated with cell and battery materials, components, and end-user devices and systems, helps in minimizing risks and promotes adoption of best practices to improve safety.
As our team works to advance safer energy storage through science, close collaboration with experts and like-minded partners in electrochemical safety research is essential if we are to address pressing global safety challenges and make progress toward a safer, more sustainable world.
In recent years, renewable energy technologies have emerged as one of the highest priority solutions to climate change. But they also present very real risks; for example, key chemicals inside lithium-ion batteries pose life-threatening harm if they aren’t manufactured, stored, and recycled correctly. Our scientists explore the safety and performance limits of storage batteries and other renewable energy technologies and investigate how we can overcome those limits safely.
Our scientific research helps everyone in the energy storage and battery value chain ─ from cell and battery manufacturers, suppliers, original equipment manufacturers, recyclers, shippers, and consumers ─ understand the various safety issues associated with batteries in various applications, including electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. Knowledge and awareness about potential hazards associated with cell and battery materials, components, and end-user devices and systems, helps in minimizing risks and promotes adoption of best practices to improve safety.
As our team works to advance safer energy storage through science, close collaboration with experts and like-minded partners in electrochemical safety research is essential if we are to address pressing global safety challenges and make progress toward a safer, more sustainable world.
Learn more about the Electrochemical Safety Research Institute.
Overview
Collaborating to meet the world’s energy safety needs
In addition to publishing academic research and disseminating information at conferences and through digital channels, we convene diverse stakeholders to find solutions.
This includes global battery summits and the Battery Safety Council, an organization we co-lead with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute also works with UL Standards & Engagement to develop standards that factor in the most current safety and performance data.
Science for safer energy designs
UL Research Institutes' focus on electrochemical safety serves our mission by conducting research and sharing data-driven knowledge to drive safe, reliable, and innovative designs to meet the world’s increasing energy demands.
Initiatives
UL Research Institutes conduct original scientific research and release information and reports for the benefit of public and private stakeholders.
August 28, 2024
Standardizing Worldwide Uniform Information for First and Second Responders
Convening working groups to promote the ISO 17840 standard for road vehicles and create safety guidelines for other applications that use batteries but are not covered by ISO 17840.
March 05, 2024
ECS Focus Issue
We collaborated with The Electrochemical Society to publish a focus issue titled, Journey of Lithium-Ion: Performance, Safety, and Lifespan, under the Journal of The Electrochemical Society.
January 23, 2024
Know Your Battery
Counterfeit batteries and related products harm thousands of people every year. We are sharing research-based tips to avoid fake products and buy the right battery for your device.
November 17, 2023
Center for Advances in Resilient Energy Storage (CARES)
Through the CARES research hub, ESRI and Purdue University explore the design and operation of batteries and energy storage systems, as well as their impact on safety and sustainability.
August 10, 2023
International Safety Summits
We have convened country-specific International Safety Summits around the world since 2014, covering safety topics relevant to each host country.
July 28, 2023
Battery Safety Council Forums
Exchanging technical information on battery safety with representatives from government, industry, national labs, and academia.
July 24, 2023
Be Nice To Your Device
We're spreading the word on the importance of safely recycling lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion battery-powered electronic devices.
May 01, 2023
Let's Talk! Podcast Series
Let’s Talk! is a podcast series hosted by the Electrochemical Safety Research Institute. We learn from scientists, researchers, and experts about specific areas of interest in energy storage.
February 24, 2023
Open Science Data
Science is shared to make way for more scientific and technological discoveries. Here we publish results obtained from aging studies on lithium-ion cells and modules of two different cell formats.
March 28, 2022
Getting Started With Electrochemical Safety
Potentially risky energy storage technologies are everywhere, from consumer products to transportation and grid storage. Learn more about the field of electrochemical safety.
September 29, 2021
Battery Safety Science Symposium
From new materials studies to safety-related research, look at what the future holds for the battery industry and areas that need to be further explored to make energy storage safer.
July 19, 2021
Battery Safety Science Webinar Series
Watch researchers and battery and energy storage professionals come together to share battery safety research and testing insights and exchange ideas.
Our Research
The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI) at UL Research Institutes conducts and documents research and publishes their findings for the benefit of the public.
Current Projects
Ongoing Research
The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute continuously researches innovations in technology to mitigate risks to safety and sustainability.
Learn more
Upcoming Projects
Future Research
The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute plans future research to help ensure electrochemical energy storage is safe and reliable.
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Completed Projects
Our Research Findings
The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute has conducted numerous experiments and research studies to contribute to the future of battery safety and energy storage systems.
Learn more
Initiatives
The electrochemical safety team carries out research on cells and batteries to advance safer energy storage through science. Our current focus is on the lithium-ion battery chemistry and the issues that exist with this chemistry. We collaborate with academia, national labs and other organizations in the private and government sectors to conduct such studies and build synergies.
We share research insights through journal publications, conference presentations, white papers, newsletter articles, infographics and videos to promote safer energy storage solutions in applications from consumer electronics to very large stationary systems.
We convene stakeholder engagements in the form of webinars, council meetings and summits to share data-driven knowledge. These interventions help in assimilating global views and expertise on advances in research and innovations in the energy storage space.
Our interventions support the development of new and revision of existing safety standards to meet the world’s increasing energy demands.
August 28, 2024
Standardizing Worldwide Uniform Information for First and Second Responders
Convening working groups to promote the ISO 17840 standard for road vehicles and create safety guidelines for other applications that use batteries but are not covered by ISO 17840.
March 05, 2024
ECS Focus Issue
We collaborated with The Electrochemical Society to publish a focus issue titled, Journey of Lithium-Ion: Performance, Safety, and Lifespan, under the Journal of The Electrochemical Society.
January 23, 2024
Know Your Battery
Counterfeit batteries and related products harm thousands of people every year. We are sharing research-based tips to avoid fake products and buy the right battery for your device.
November 17, 2023
Center for Advances in Resilient Energy Storage (CARES)
Through the CARES research hub, ESRI and Purdue University explore the design and operation of batteries and energy storage systems, as well as their impact on safety and sustainability.
August 10, 2023
International Safety Summits
We have convened country-specific International Safety Summits around the world since 2014, covering safety topics relevant to each host country.
July 28, 2023
Battery Safety Council Forums
Exchanging technical information on battery safety with representatives from government, industry, national labs, and academia.
July 24, 2023
Be Nice To Your Device
We're spreading the word on the importance of safely recycling lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion battery-powered electronic devices.
May 01, 2023
Let's Talk! Podcast Series
Let’s Talk! is a podcast series hosted by the Electrochemical Safety Research Institute. We learn from scientists, researchers, and experts about specific areas of interest in energy storage.
February 24, 2023
Open Science Data
Science is shared to make way for more scientific and technological discoveries. Here we publish results obtained from aging studies on lithium-ion cells and modules of two different cell formats.
March 28, 2022
Getting Started With Electrochemical Safety
Potentially risky energy storage technologies are everywhere, from consumer products to transportation and grid storage. Learn more about the field of electrochemical safety.
September 29, 2021
Battery Safety Science Symposium
From new materials studies to safety-related research, look at what the future holds for the battery industry and areas that need to be further explored to make energy storage safer.
July 19, 2021
Battery Safety Science Webinar Series
Watch researchers and battery and energy storage professionals come together to share battery safety research and testing insights and exchange ideas.
Library
Explore our repository of reports, publications and videos on electrochemical safety science.
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News
Stay updated about our initiatives and programs designed to advance a safe, secure and sustainable energy storage ecosystem across the globe.
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Events
We convene Battery Safety Council meetings, Battery Safety Summits and the Battery Safety Science Webinar Series to bring together subject matter experts, scientists, industry, government and technical professionals to share insights on new research and innovations and disseminate knowledge regarding lessons learned to benefit public safety. View our upcoming events below and learn more about our past events.
International Electrochemical Commission (IEC)
Dr. Judy Jeevarajan, vice president and executive director of ESRI, will speak the webinar series, IEC and the SDGs: Partnering for a Safe, Efficient and Inclusive Future.
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Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting & Exhibit
Dr. Bicy Kottathodi, Research Scientist at ESRI, will present at the 2024 MRS Fall Meeting on Dec. 2.
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Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC)
ESRI's Research Scientists, Dr. Byoungchul Kwon and Dr. Vallabha Rao Rikka, will speak at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC) in Las Vegas on Dec. 10.
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49th International Conference and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC2025)
ESRI's Research Director for Novel Materials & New Energy Forms, Dr. Wan Si Tang, will present a talk on composites and ceramic materials for energy storage and conversion on Jan. 27.