Plans are under for construction of a projected largest standalone battery storage in South Africa. This follows Globeleq being awarded Preferred Bidder status in South Africa’s Energy Storage Capacity Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (ESIPPPP).
The Red Sands marks a significant step towards enhancing renewable energy infrastructure in the region. It will be a 153 MW/612 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) with an US $300M to be invested in it by UK, through British International Investment (BII).
This investment underscores the UK’s commitment to supporting clean energy initiatives, as part of the Just Energy Transition Partnership established at COP26, and reflects the global trend towards reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
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Red Sands project
The Red Sands project was originally developed by African Green Ventures, which Globeleq acquired last year from Magnora, a Norwegian company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The project will be located about 100 km southeast of Upington, the lithium-ion battery project and will sit on a 5 ha site.
The lithium-ion battery project will be connected to the grid through the Eskom Garona substation with upgrades planned by Red Sands to ensure optimal network support capabilities for the batteries.
With an estimated construction period of 24 months after financial close, expected in 2024, the Red Sands project holds promise for driving sustainable energy development and contributing to South Africa’s clean energy goals.
Globeleq CEO Mike Scholey expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its importance in meeting both industrial and domestic energy demands in South Africa and across Africa. Scholey emphasized the crucial role of electricity storage in enabling the integration of renewable energy projects and the transition to a carbon-free power grid.
