Eskom plans 800 MWh of battery storage by Dec 2019

South African utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd plans to install 800 MWh of distributed battery storage by December 2019 under the first phase of its Distributed Battery Storage with Distributed Solar Photovoltaic (PV) project, according to a document released recently by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Eskom's battery programme is to be realised with financing from the AfDB and the World Bank. The AfDB document, which is designed to provide environmental and social management framework, deals with phase one of the two-phase project and says that the approach for the second phase will be be similar. The second phase envisages the installation of 640 MWh of distributed battery storage with 60 MW of distributed PV across the country by December 2021.

Phase one will see grid-scale batteries installed at 47 sites along the power grids and close to renewable energy power plants in four provinces -- Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal. The sites have been selected to support the integration of renewables and the stability of the distribution network. Most of them will be existing Eskom substations sites. A battery system is also planned at the 100-MW Sere wind farm.

Details of phase one of the project:

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!