LOCALISING VANADIUM BATTERY - PRODUCTION FOR SOUTH - AFRICA’S ENERGY SECURITY

In line with the IRP, Eskom’s Battery Energy Storage Project outlines the integration of 800 megawatt-hour (MWh) of battery storage in phase one, and 640 MWh of battery storage combined with 60 MWh of solar generation in phase two of the programme. [...] While lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and lead-acid batteries dominate the BESS market, the rising costs of electricity generation and the current electricity crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in South Africa, have led to a review of the possibility of integrating various storage technologies throughout the South African market. [...] The section following that examines the local battery market and identifies the types of battery technologies that can fulfil the needs of key customers in the storage market. [...] Applications of energy storage technologies As illustrated in Table 1, bulk energy and ancillary services are used in the electric system to ensure the provision of a combination of flexibility, stability and reliability of the power grid and in response to real-time variances in power supply and demand. [...] However, of the energy technologies outlined in Figure 1, electric, chemical and electrochemical batteries have the most potential to make a significant contribution to the electricity market and the promotion of accessible clean energy.