Bloemfontein energy storage test base

When will a battery testbed open in South Africa?

The indoor battery testbed will move into full operation in May this year to support South African stakeholders across the whole battery value chain, from manufacturers to end users.

What is included in a battery testbed facility?

The testbed facility will include performance and reliability testing; battery calendar life; storage capacity; cycle life; depth of discharge; verification and validation; aged battery services; battery aftermarket services; and postmortem analysis, which forms part of the root cause analysis.

What is CSIR's energy storage testbed project?

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR’s) Energy Storage Testbed project came about in the framework of the World Bank’s Energy Storage Partnership, an important programme to promote energy storage in developing countries.

Why does South Africa need a high-quality lithium-ion battery testing facility?

South African industry needs high-quality local testing and certification facilities for lithium-ion batteries. There is no protection afforded to industry and consumers from substandard technologies, both through imports and local assembly lines.

Why is battery testing important in South Africa?

These plants require rigorous battery testing, which is evidenced by the number of early-engagement inquiries from the industry. South African industry needs high-quality local testing and certification facilities for lithium-ion batteries.

What does the CSIR think about the testbed facility?

The CSIR sees the testbed facility as a “stepping stone” for the intermittency challenge of renewable energy. With increased levels of load shedding, many businesses and residential homeowners are turning to both solar power and batteries in an attempt to reduce their reliance on the grid.