One of the biggest battery energy storage solutions (BESS) projects on the continent is on the verge of getting under way.

The Red Sands battery project in the Northern Cape, being developed by local independent power producer Globeleq at a cost of about ZAR5.7 billion, has been announced as the fifth preferred bidder in government’s inaugural bid window for its Energy Storage Capacity Independent Power Producer Procurement programme.

According to Engineering News, the 53 MW/612 MWh Red Sands project will be built on 5 ha of land, 100 km from Upington. The BESS will connect to the national grid through Eskom’s Garona power station, which will also be upgraded.

‘Electricity storage is going to be key not only in helping South Africa meet its considerable industrial and domestic demand for energy but also in meeting growing demand right across Africa as more and more renewable energy projects benefit from the advances our industry has made with battery storage technology,’ says Globeleq CEO Mike Scholey.

16 April 2024
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