Salvage Solar

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Independent solar asset recovery and energy storage handling specialist supporting insurers and asset recovery firms with compliant, documented, and risk-controlled outcomes

Salvage Solar – Recovery Summary (Insurance Case)Location: PretoriaIncident Period: First week of FebruaryEquipment : Mu...
06/03/2026

Salvage Solar – Recovery Summary (Insurance Case)

Location: Pretoria
Incident Period: First week of February
Equipment : Multiple LiFePO4 batteries

Salvage Solar was contacted by the insurance company to recover lithium battery systems that had been involved in an incident during the first week of February.
The batteries had remained on site since the incident occurred.

Due to the potential risks associated with damaged lithium battery systems remaining on the property, Salvage Solar was appointed to safely recover the batteries from site.

Purpose of Recovery:
• Technical assessment of the batteries
• Damage report for insurance purposes
• Safe removal from the property
• Responsible disposal and recycling if deemed unsafe
The batteries have been removed from the premises and transported for controlled assessment and further handling.
—
Salvage Solar (Pty) Ltd
082 705 6974
[email protected]







Lithium Battery Recovery Report1️⃣ Incident DetailsDate of Original Incident: 29 January 2026Location: Residential Prope...
03/03/2026

Lithium Battery Recovery Report

1️⃣ Incident Details

Date of Original Incident: 29 January 2026
Location: Residential Property – Kimberley, South Africa
Equipment Involved: 5 × 5kWh Imported LiFePO₄ Batteries
Type of Incident: Thermal Runaway – Energy Storage System

2️⃣ Summary of Findings

• A single 5kWh LiFePO₄ battery experienced internal fault leading to thermal runaway
• Resultant thermal event caused damage to all five battery units
• Associated inverters within the residential garage also sustained damage
• No injuries were reported

3️⃣ Re-Ignition Event

• Re-ignition occurred approximately three weeks after the initial incident
• Batteries remained on site pending insurance assessment and collection
• Latent internal instability identified as contributing factor

4️⃣ Post-Incident Risk

• Ongoing internal short-circuit potential
• Residual stored energy within damaged lithium cells
• Elevated re-ignition risk
• Secondary property damage exposure while stored on site

5️⃣ Recovery Actions Taken

• Salvage Solar contacted for specialist recovery and disposal
• During recovery, abnormal temperature elevation observed in one unit
• Re-ignition occurred during handling phase
• Fireblock Lithium Firefighting Gel applied internally to all five units
• Encapsulation performed to mitigate further thermal escalation
• All affected batteries safely removed from premises
• Units secured for controlled containment and responsible disposal.

Salvage Solar (Pty) Ltd
Specialist Lithium Battery Recovery & Risk Mitigation

📍 Gauteng, South Africa | Operating Nationwide
📧 [email protected]

🌐 www.salvagesolar.co.za

📞 082 705 6974

Fireblock







Super Capacitor Incident ReportDate of Incident: 31 January 2026Location: Residential Property – Midlands EstateEquipmen...
03/03/2026

Super Capacitor Incident Report

Date of Incident: 31 January 2026
Location: Residential Property – Midlands Estate
Equipment Involved: Multiple 7kWh Super Capacitor Energy Storage Devices
Type of Incident: Fire Event – Energy Storage System

2️⃣ Summary of Findings

• One super capacitor unit experienced thermal failure and severe burn damage
• Fireblock Lithium Gel applied for suppression, thermal shock, and encapsulation
• Adjacent units protected and system isolated

3️⃣ Post-Incident Risk

• Residual stored energy
• Internal short-circuit potential
• Re-ignition risk if left on site

4️⃣ Action Taken

• Affected unit safely removed from premises
• Secured for controlled containment and responsible disposal

Salvage Solar (Pty) Ltd

Specialist Lithium Battery Recovery & Risk Mitigation

📍 Based in Gauteng | Operating Nationwide
📧 [email protected]

🌐 www.salvagesolar.co.za

📞 082 705 6974

Fireblock








The Hidden Risk: Battery Re-Ignition After a FireWhen a lithium battery fire is extinguished, many assume the risk has p...
26/02/2026

The Hidden Risk: Battery Re-Ignition After a Fire

When a lithium battery fire is extinguished, many assume the risk has passed.
In reality, the period after the visible flames are out can present one of the highest risk windows — particularly if the battery is left untreated, unisolated, or stored in place.

Even lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries, widely regarded as one of the safer chemistries, can pose a re-ignition risk if damaged.

Why does re-ignition happen?

• Residual stored energy – Damaged cells can retain charge and discharge unpredictably.
• Internal short circuits – Heat, impact, or water exposure can create latent internal faults.
• Compromised Battery Management Systems (BMS) – Protection systems may fail after thermal or water damage.
• Ongoing chemical reactions – Thermal events can continue internally even after surface flames are extinguished.
• Re-exposure to oxygen – Moving or disturbing a burnt unit can reintroduce oxygen to smouldering internal materials.
In many cases, re-ignition occurs hours — or even days — after the initial event.

From a risk management perspective, leaving a burnt battery on site without proper isolation, monitoring, and removal exposes property owners and insurers to secondary loss.

Best practice following any battery fire includes:
• Controlled suppression
• Thermal assessment
• Isolation from occupied structures
• Removal from site where appropriate
• Secure off-site containment
• Documented chain-of-custody handling

At Salvage Solar, we focus on post-incident risk reduction — because the end of visible flames does not always mean the end of risk.

082 705 6974
[email protected]
Salvagesolar.co.za
Salvage Solar

Why LiFePO₄ Batteries Catch Alight: The Most Common CausesLithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries are widely regarded...
08/02/2026

Why LiFePO₄ Batteries Catch Alight: The Most Common Causes

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries are widely regarded as one of the safest lithium battery chemistries available. However, “safer” does not mean immune to fire or failure. When incidents do occur, they are almost always linked to a small number of recurring causes.

The most common contributors to LiFePO₄ battery fires include:

• Electrical faults or short circuits

Damaged cabling, poor connections, incorrect fusing, or external short circuits can cause rapid overheating and internal failure.

• Battery Management System (BMS) failure or bypass

The BMS is critical for safety. If it is damaged, incorrectly configured, or bypassed, the battery may operate outside safe limits without protection.

• Overcharging or incorrect charging profiles

Using incompatible chargers or inverters, incorrect voltage settings, or firmware mismatches can push cells beyond safe operating ranges.

• Physical damage

Impact, vibration, crushing, or improper handling can compromise internal cell structure, leading to delayed failure or thermal events.

• Water ingress or moisture exposure

Flooding, leaks, condensation, or firefighting water can damage internal electronics and insulation, creating latent risks that may only surface days or weeks later.

• Poor installation or non-compliant systems

Inadequate ventilation, incorrect mounting, lack of isolation, or installations that do not follow manufacturer or regulatory guidelines significantly increase risk.

• Reuse of damaged or end-of-life batteries

Batteries that have been previously involved in incidents, floods, or electrical faults may be resold or reinstalled, carrying hidden and unpredictable risks.
In many cases, LiFePO₄ battery fires are not caused by the cells themselves, but by external factors, system design issues, or post-incident reuse.

At Salvage Solar, we regularly see that proper assessment, isolation, and removal of compromised energy storage systems play a critical role in preventing secondary damage and repeat incidents.

Risk doesn’t always end when the power is switched off.

Well done to the team at CGFA Firefighters - NPC
06/02/2026

Well done to the team at CGFA Firefighters - NPC

The Risk Behind a Water-Damaged LiFePO₄ BatteryWater exposure to lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery systems presen...
02/02/2026

The Risk Behind a Water-Damaged LiFePO₄ Battery

Water exposure to lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery systems presents a recognised safety and reliability risk, even where no immediate failure or fire is observed.

Water ingress can compromise internal electrical insulation, accelerate corrosion of conductors and busbars, and critically affect the battery management system (BMS), which is responsible for monitoring and enforcing safe operating limits.

Damage of this nature is often latent and may not be detectable through basic functional testing, with failures occurring days or weeks after the initial exposure.
Such failures can result in uncontrolled charging or discharging, internal heating, or delayed thermal events.

For this reason, water-damaged LiFePO₄ batteries are generally considered compromised assets from a risk and liability perspective, and removal from occupied premises is the most effective means of eliminating the potential for secondary loss.

Controlled isolation, off-site storage, and compliant end-of-life handling significantly reduce ongoing risk to insured property and occupants.

Incident Response: Supercapacitor Fire – Centurion, GautengThis past weekend, Salvage Solar was called out to a resident...
02/02/2026

Incident Response: Supercapacitor Fire – Centurion, Gauteng

This past weekend, Salvage Solar was called out to a residential property in Centurion, Gauteng, following an incident involving a supercapacitor that had ignited. Emergency services attended the scene to extinguish the initial fire, after which Salvage Solar was requested to assist with specialist assessment and recovery of the affected energy storage component.

Supercapacitors, while commonly used in modern power electronics and energy systems, present unique risks when damaged or exposed to fire. These components are capable of retaining residual electrical energy, delivering very high discharge currents, and containing flammable electrolytes. When compromised, they can pose a risk of delayed re-ignition or secondary thermal events, even after an initial fire has been extinguished.

As a precautionary risk-mitigation measure, a Fireblock specialised firefighting gel was applied to the damaged component to suppress residual thermal activity and reduce the likelihood of re-ignition.

Following assessment and in line with the requirements and requests of both the homeowner and the insurance company, the supercapacitor was safely removed from the premises. Retaining a fire-damaged energy storage component on site can expose property and occupants to unnecessary ongoing risk, and removal is often the most effective way to eliminate that risk.

The component has been isolated and secured for controlled handling and further compliant processing.

Incidents like this highlight the importance of specialist knowledge when dealing with damaged solar and energy storage equipment. Proper assessment, isolation, and removal play a critical role in preventing secondary damage and ensuring the safety of people and property.

As solar and battery installations increase, so does the need for specialist handling when systems are damaged, decommis...
01/02/2026

As solar and battery installations increase, so does the need for specialist handling when systems are damaged, decommissioned, or involved in incidents.

Energy storage components such as batteries and supercapacitors can retain residual energy and present delayed fire or safety risks if not managed correctly.

Salvage Solar focuses on controlled recovery, isolation, documentation, and responsible end-of-life processing to reduce risk to people and property.

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48 Rohrs Road
Germiston
1401

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