Energy solutions provider NEC XON Systems and the Lebalelo Water User Association (LWUA) have partnered to install an emergency battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Clapham pump station, in Limpopo.

The installation aims to mitigate the risk of water reservoirs running dry at the pump station owing to potential electricity shortages and thereby ensure consistent water supply to communities and commercial users across the Sekhukhune district and the Mogalakwena local municipalities.

The 3.4 MWh SolarMD containerised BESS solution, supplied and installed by NEC XON Systems, includes two 1 MW AEG inverters, two 630 kVA transformers, electrical cabling, panels and integration, along with variable frequency drives for the 500 kVA pumps.

The BESS solution enables the Clapham pump station to operate in an off-grid mode for about four hours, ensuring continuous water supply to LWUA users in Limpopo.

“We are proud to partner with LWUA to enhance water supply infrastructure in Limpopo. By leveraging our BESS technology, we can mitigate the risk of water scarcity and ensure uninterrupted water supply to communities and commercial users,” said NEC XON Systems renewables and storage GM Herman Viljoen.

The collaboration forms part of the larger Olifants Management Model (OMM) programme, formed in 2022 through a joint effort between LWUA and the Department of Water and Sanitation, to expedite the construction of potable and bulk raw water infrastructure to supply targeted communities and commercial users across the Sekhukhune district and the Mogalakwena local municipalities.

The strategic pump station plays a crucial role in linking the Steelpoort river to the Havercroft weir, with plans to connect it to the Olifantspoort weir, spanning over 100 km of water pipeline infrastructure and pumping capacity.

Without a backup power supply system, the risk of water scarcity owing to potential electricity shortages becomes a significant concern.