Globeleq, a prominent independent power producer in Africa, in collaboration with African Rainbow Energy, has announced the commercial close of the 153 MW / 612 MWh Red Sands Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in South Africa.
The project, located in the Northern Cape, has now become the largest standalone battery storage facility on the African continent to reach this milestone. The achievement follows the execution of essential agreements with South Africa’s Department of Electricity and Energy, along with the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA). Spanning approximately five hectares, the Red Sands project will involve significant upgrades to both Eskom and NTCSA’s grid infrastructure, reinforcing the region’s power stability.
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Red Sands Battery Energy Storage System
Red Sands BESS is poised to play a key role in easing transmission and distribution constraints in the Northern Cape. It forms part of a broader effort to bolster South Africa’s power system, making it more resilient, reliable, and aligned with the country’s decarbonization objectives.
Globeleq CEO Jonathan Hoffman emphasized that the commercial close of Red Sands marks a pivotal moment in the company’s expansion of battery storage solutions across Africa, building on its experience in renewable energy projects such as the Cuamba solar-plus-storage plant in Mozambique.
African Rainbow Energy CEO Brian Dames echoed this sentiment, stating that the investment aligns with the company’s goal of leveraging modern renewable technologies to deliver affordable electricity and uplift communities. He highlighted the project as a significant component of their R3 billion pledge under the South African Investment Drive.
