The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) of South Africa has opened the third bid window for its Battery Energy Storage IPP Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP), while also revealing the fifth and final winner from the first window.
Key contracts have been signed for the first-ever grid-scale battery storage project in Namibia, signifying the African country’s dedication to modernising its energy infrastructure, according to a top local official.
Norway-based independent power producer (IPP) Scatec has started operations on three solar-plus-storage projects in South Africa, totalling 1,140MWh of BESS capacity.
Norway-based IPP Scatec has won preferred bidder status for a 103MW/412MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project in South Africa, part of a 513MW tender.
EDF Renewables has reached financial and commercial close on two virtually-coupled hybrid projects in South Africa, combining wind and solar with a combined 75MW of battery storage.
Eskom, the public utility company of South Africa, has inaugurated a 20MW/100MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) aimed at mitigating the challenging situation facing the country’s grid.
South Africa needs to prioritise grid-located battery storage if it is to overcome the ongoing ‘load-shedding’ power outage crisis plaguing the country.
It is “unacceptable” for a rural electricity supplier to use solar to prevent load-shedding, but batteries or other grid-independent electricity sources could be used, Eskom said.
A solar-plus-storage project is being planned for the legislative capital of South Africa, as the city looks to move “away from Eskom reliance and towards a load-shedding-free Cape Town”, its Mayor said.
