- Globeleq and African Rainbow Energy signed agreements to reach commercial close on Red Sands, a 153 MW/612 MWh battery storage project in Northern Cape, South Africa.
- The project will store excess power, ease grid congestion, and boost stability, helping deliver affordable, low-carbon electricity across South Africa.
Globeleq and African Rainbow Energy have reached commercial close on the 153 MW/612 MWh Red Sands Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), solidifying plans to build Africa’s largest standalone battery storage project in South Africa’s Northern Cape.
The developers signed project agreements with the Department of Electricity and Energy and National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), officially moving the project into construction. The 5-hectare facility will be critical in reducing transmission bottlenecks and stabilising the national grid.
Furthermore, South Africa’s government designated Red Sands as a preferred bidder in 2024 under its Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Programme (BESIPPP).
“Reaching commercial close on Red Sands marks a major milestone for battery storage in Africa,” said Jonathan Hoffman, CEO of Globeleq. “We deliver large-scale, clean energy infrastructure to meet the continent’s growing electricity needs. This project builds on our renewable energy leadership in South Africa and our success with the Cuamba solar-plus-storage plant in Mozambique.”
Globeleq plans to store excess power during low-demand periods and release electricity during peak hours, enabling more stable power flows within the NTCSA network. The Red Sands system will also deliver essential ancillary services such as frequency regulation and grid support.
“Our investment in Red Sands aligns with our mission to deploy modern energy technologies and uplift communities,” said Brian Dames, CEO of African Rainbow Energy. “This project also helps fulfil our R3 billion investment pledge as part of South Africa’s national development drive.”
African Rainbow Energy, jointly owned by African Rainbow Energy and Power and Absa Bank, is co-developing the project. Globeleq, owned by British International Investment and Norfund, has operated in Africa since 2002. It now manages 1,794 MW of generation capacity across 17 plants in seven countries, with 485 MW under construction and over 2 GW in development.
“Red Sands shows how large-scale battery storage can strengthen grid resilience while accelerating Africa’s energy transition,” Hoffman said.
By closing this deal, Globeleq and African Rainbow Energy have taken a decisive step toward expanding South Africa’s clean energy infrastructure and scaling battery storage across the continent.