- The testbed will provide critical data for the energy storage industry, strengthening overall capacity.
- The testbed will strengthen the country’s ability to support local players in the battery value chain by enabling small and medium enterprises, manufacturers and importers access to the facility.
South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a new indoor energy storage testbed in collaboration with the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) to support the battery value chain while strengthening South Africa’s capabilities in renewable energy storage.
The testbed allows the CSIR to test the performance and reliability of lithium-ore batteries, with the facility equipped with a high-precision system for battery module and pack tests. The testbed will provide critical data for the energy storage industry, strengthening overall capacity.
According to Renesh Thakoordeen, Energy Storage Testbed Project Leader at CSIR, “The facility will provide much-needed testing for the county. It will be used as a service for technology developers or importers who would like to characterize their technologies for market entry,” adding that, “It is a stepping-stone towards addressing the intermittency challenge of renewable energy. Many businesses and residential homeowners use solar power and batteries to secure their energy supply. The testbed will assist in creating the standards for lithium-ore batteries in South Africa.”
The testbed will strengthen the country’s ability to support local players in the battery value chain by enabling small and medium enterprises, manufacturers and importers access to the facility. Dr Thulani Dlamini, CEO of CSIR, said, “A developing country such as South Africa has to think of technologies that offer long-duration storage, have lower operational and maintenance requirements and can withstand harsh climatic conditions.”