South africa outdoor energy storage battery sales channel

Is South Africa ready for battery storage?

The South African government has acknowledged the potential of battery storage and has set ambitious targets for its deployment. The 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and Eskom’s Transmission Development Plan (TDP) project a need for 2GW to 6.6GW of battery storage capacity to be installed by 2032.

How big is the battery storage market in South Africa?

It is analyzed that the South African battery storage market can be expected to grow from 270 MWh in 2020 to 9,700 MWh in 2030 under the base-case scenario and 15,000 MWh under the best-case scenario. In both cases, the electric vehicle (EV) sector is expected to drive the bulk of this growth.

Does South Africa have a battery storage tender programme?

South Africa is aiming to procure utility-scale battery storage with two tender programmes: its Battery Storage IPP Procurement Programme as well as hybrid battery storage and variable renewables projects through its Risk Mitigation IPP Procurement Programme.

How does the international community contribute to battery storage in South Africa?

The international community is also contributing to the development of battery storage systems in South Africa. For example, the World Bank and the African Development Bank recently approved funding for the battery storage element – worth around USD 500 million – of a hybrid project within the Eskom Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Which countries supply lithium batteries to South Africa?

China, having established battery storage manufacturing facilities, has been the primary supplier of lithium cells and batteries to South Africa between 2019 and 2022. South Africa’s transition from coal-dominated electricity generation to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar presents an opportunity to increase battery pack imports.

Can South Africa produce a battery?

The Netherlands is the primary destination for South Africa’s ferro-alloys and ferro-vanadium exports, while South Korea is a growing market for these products. South Africa lacks the manufacturing capabilities for the production of battery storage. It remains to be proven whether such an activity would be competitive domestically, says Nikomarov.