As Dubai’s largest international university, Heriot-Watt University has established a Solar Innovation Lab, which is powered by a combination of rooftop solar panels and a battery energy storage system (BESS). Zafar Siddiqui, MEIA Technology & Solutions Consultant at Fike, recently met with university leaders to make Heriot-Watt University’s BESS the first system in the Middle East and North Africa to be protected by Fike BlueTM.
Fike Blue is the first third-party tested and patented solution proven to suppress a cascading thermal runaway event. As a liquid with a very high boiling point, Fike Blue is directly injected into the battery module and manages the thermal event by absorbing the heat until the event is over.
With the installation of Fike Blue on-site, this led to a unique educational opportunity for Heriot-Watt to be the first university in the region to provide demonstration of protected BESS’s and EV charging stations and educate students about industry-best practices in managing these potential hazards. The facility will also support students at UG and PG level studying energy and renewable energy engineering.
Furthermore, in the 2024 Fall Semester, Heriot-Watt University will announce a special opportunity for a doctoral or master’s student to participate in testing, write a test report and produce a thesis around thermal runaway management which will be published in a future journal.
"Engineering students at Heriot-Watt University will soon have the chance to explore a unique subject not offered elsewhere,"said Siddiqui.
"We are excited to introduce a curriculum that focuses on thermal runaway in BESS's and incorporates the groundbreaking Fike Blue technology to mitigate fire hazards. This initiative underscores our commitment to showcasing cutting-edge technologies, providing hands-on experience crucial for students engaged in renewable energy and integrated systems.
"It equips them to tackle modern challenges and prepares them to become future industry leaders."
