A handful of large-scale battery storage systems have already been built, or are currently under construction, in Africa. A prominent example is the Kenhardt project built by Norwegian company Scatec, which began supplying electricity to South Africa’s national grid late last year. The scale of Kenhardt makes it an exception, however. Although multiple countries, including Senegal and Mozambique are installing utility-scale BESS projects, the continent is generally lagging behind in the race to build storage capacity. A report published earlier this year by the International Institute for Sustainable Development on BESS in South Africa found that there are still major concerns over battery costs in the country. The report’s authors, however, argued that energy system planners need to recognise the value of BESS as well as its costs.
Increasing Investment in Battery Storage is Vital for African Power Systems
