The initiation of Scatec’s three Kenhardt projects, in the Northern Cape, exemplifies the renewable power producer’s strides in innovation in integrating storage technologies into renewable energy projects, sub-Saharan Africa executive VP Jan Fourie extolls.

These projects, built under the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, involve a total capital expenditure approaching $1-billion, representing one of the most extensive photovoltaic endeavours globally, he outlines.

He highlights that owing to their unique design, incorporating a total solar capacity of 540 MW and a battery storage capacity of 225 MW/1 140 MWh, they are pioneers, and upon completion, will rank among the world’s largest solar and battery hybrid installations.

“More than just large-scale, these projects are transformative in that the utility-scale energy storage solutions will allow renewable solar energy to become fully dispatchable – and to flexibly meet the demands of the grid in real-time,” Fourie acclaims.

He avers that the Kenhardt projects provide a glimpse into the future of energy storage.

With these expected to provide 150 MW of dispatchable power under a 20-year power purchase agreement, these plants will considerably alleviate the power shortages currently experienced in the region, highlighting the critical role of energy storage on South Africa’s road towards energy security, and the battle against the ongoing loadshedding crisis, he notes.

He informs that Scatec will retain a 51% stake in the project, while the remaining 49% will be held by local partner H1 Holdings.

The company’s role as the engineering, procurement and construction provider mandates it to provide operation and maintenance and asset management services for the power plants.

Fourie says this strategy showcases the company’s commitment to fostering local economic growth, and also facilitates skills and knowledge transfer around the latest innovations in incipient energy storage technologies – a rapidly evolving field.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology continues to be widely used as the primary storage solution in the solar energy industry – especially in South Africa where its energy density has helped make solar energy cost competitive with coal-based plants at the utility and industrial scales, Fourie explains.

However, he says other technologies are emerging as potential alternatives.

For instance, supercapacitors and different types of batteries, are being researched for their flexibility of scale and low environmental impact.

While Li-ion is still a standard, Fourie emphasises that Scatec is committed to staying at the forefront of these developments, exploring options, and considering how to leverage these advances, to diversify the solar energy storage landscape and drive further innovation.

“The Kenhardt projects underscore the transformative power of advanced storage technology in advancing towards a just energy transition in South Africa. Our role in these projects and our commitment to integrating cutting-edge storage technologies affirm our position as a key player in driving the solar energy revolution in South Africa,” Fourie says.