KEY POINTS
- South Africa’s first two private utility-scale battery projects reach commercial close.
- Mogobe BESS and a North West province project will add significant energy storage capacity.
- The projects represent a major step forward in renewable energy and grid stability.
In a major development for the South African renewable energy market, the first two private utility-scale battery energy storage projects have achieved commercial close. This development is a step in the right direction in the effort to increase the amount of renewable energy in the national grid as well as improving energy stability.
Mogobe BESS and North West projects take the lead
The two projects, Mogobe Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and another in the North West province, will be pioneers in the country’s energy sector. These projects are the first of their kind in South Africa in terms of battery storage, and open up new possibilities for energy reliability and efficiency.
The Mogobe BESS project is located in the Free State province and with both projects the country will gain in helping to shore up the energy grid in South Africa which has been under pressure due to the blackouts in the past years.
According to the Engineering News, these battery systems are intended to store energy when demand is low and supply it when demand is high. This will drastically cut the load on the grid especially as the country still faces energy deficits due to old infrastructure and coal fired power stations.
Benefit to renewable energy and power distribution
Battery energy storage is viewed as a critical piece of the shift toward renewables, as a means of dealing with the variability of solar and wind energy.
These systems enable energy to be stored at appropriate intervals and released during other intervals of high power consumption thereby increasing the balance and reliability of power. The Mogobe BESS and the North West projects are anticipated to open the flood gates for more private participation in the energy sector of South Africa.
As these projects reach their commercial close, South Africa is set to move to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. These battery systems will help to support the national grid, enhance energy security and prevent the recurrent blackouts in the country. Besides, successful development of these projects may lead to more investment in renewable energy and energy storage technologies.
A positive step for South Africa’s energy future
The start of these private utility-scale battery projects is being seen as a game changer in the country’s bid to add more sources of power generation and phase out coal. With South Africa in the process of trying to achieve its set carbon emission reduction targets, energy storage systems such as Mogobe BESS will play a crucial role in the integration of renewable energy into the grid.
Despite these challenges, the energy sector of South Africa has not been an exception to these challenges, which include financial challenges and ageing infrastructure and therefore the success of these battery projects present a positive outlook for the energy sector in the country.
As South Africa continues to invest in technologies that will improve the stability of the grid, the country is gradually getting closer to its renewable energy objectives and guaranteeing energy for all.
