BESS Industrial Uninterruptible Power Supply in Africa

The African Continental Power System Masterplan (CMP) study into BESS says that considering Africa's rapidly growing power requirements and the already planned contributions from variable renewable energy (VRE), these commitments do not fully reflect the potential for BESS on the continent.

Experience in the African context is even more limited with very few grid-scale BESS projects that are operational. As an emerging technology it is expected that technical performance will continue to mature and improve. Already, rapid and significant improvements have been seen across most performances metrices.

Because of its relatively recent inclusion in power systems, most international electricity markets consider BESS an emerging technology, despite some technologies already being commercially established and successful. Experience in the African context is even more limited with very few grid-scale BESS projects that are operational.

BESS is another form of energy storage, similar to the more familiar pumped storage hydropower. Batteries do not generate electricity, rather their value lies in a range of ancillary services that can enhance system stability throughout the electricity supply chain.

Confirmed development of BESS across the continent is still small compared to global projections, less than 0.5% of the global BESS capacity of 358GW by 2030. Considering Africa's rapidly growing power requirements and the already planned contributions from VRE, these commitments do not fully reflect the potential for BESS on the continent.

Confirmed development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) across Africa is still small compared to global projections, says a study. The confirmed development of Battery Energy Storage Systems across Africa is still small compared to global projections – less than 0.5% of the global BESS capacity of 358GW by 2030.