- Red Sands BESS in South Africa will be Africa’s largest battery storage project (153MW/612MWh), starting in 2027, to support the power grid.
- Globeleq partnered with Sungrow for equipment and 15 years of maintenance.
The Red Sands Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in South Africa’s Northern Cape, about 100km southeast of Upington, will soon become the continent’s largest standalone battery energy storage facility.
As part of South Africa’s inaugural Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP), the project aims to boost the national grid’s resilience and enable a broader transition to renewable energy.
Meanwhile, the Red Sands BESS will occupy roughly five hectares (12 acres) and connect to the Eskom Garona substation. Its strategic location and design will allow it to deliver critical grid services, including load shifting and stabilisation, and facilitate the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, helping address South Africa’s ongoing power supply challenges.
Globeleq, the project’s developer, has signed a term sheet with Sungrow to supply its advanced PowerTitan 2.0 liquid-cooled energy storage technology. Under a 15-year agreement, Sungrow will provide full Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services to ensure long-term reliability and performance.
Furthermore, the project will reach a financial close in 2025 and begin commercial operations in 2027.
“We are excited to sign the Supply and 15-year Long Term Service Agreement term sheets with Sungrow for our 153MW/612MWh Red Sands BESS project in South Africa, the largest standalone battery energy storage project in Sub-Saharan Africa to date,” said Paolo de Michelis, Globeleq’s Head of Renewables.
“Developing BESS projects involves navigating complex challenges and requires a strategic long-term commitment from all project partners. Sungrow’s strong track record in South Africa, combined with their high-quality technology and competitive offering, will be instrumental in delivering a reliable project and a more stable grid.”
Globeleq, owned 70% by British International Investment and 30% by Norfund, leads the development, ownership and operation of electricity generation assets across Africa. Since 2002, the company has built a diverse energy portfolio with 1,794 MW in operation across 17 sites in seven countries, 485 MW under construction, and over 2,000 MW in its development pipeline.
Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technologies, has supplied over 740 GW of power electronic converters worldwide as of December 2024.
The company holds the top global ranking in PV inverter shipments (S&P Global Commodity Insights) and is rated the most bankable energy storage provider by BloombergNEF. With operations in more than 180 countries and 520 service outlets, Sungrow continues to drive the energy transition with cutting-edge solutions and strong local partnerships.