Globeleq announced that its 153 MW / 612 MWh Red Sands project in the Northern Cape has been awarded Preferred Bidder status in South Africa’s Energy Storage Capacity Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (ESIPPPP).
The Red Sands project is located in the Northern Cape, about 100km southeast of Upington, and will be the largest standalone battery energy storage system in Africa. The project will take up approximately five hectares (12 acres) and will connect to the grid through the Eskom Garona substation. The substation will be upgraded by the Red Sands project to ensure that full network support capabilities of the project’s batteries can be utilized.
Working closely with leading global battery and balance-of-plant suppliers, Globeleq estimates that the project will cost approximately $300 million (ZAR5.7 billion) and will take 24 months to construct after financial close which is expected later this year.
Red Sands will be Globeleq’s first largescale Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS) project in South Africa where the Group also owns and operates eight renewable plants (six solar PV, two wind) with a total generating capacity of 384 MW. Globeleq also owns a combined solar and BESS plant at Cuamba in Mozambique and is developing other BESS projects across the African continent.
Mike Scholey, Globeleq’s CEO, commented: “I am delighted that we have received Preferred Bidder status for this very important project: the biggest standalone Battery Energy Storage System project in Africa. We look forward to working with the Government to take Red Sands to financial close and into operations. 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.”