‘Africa’s Largest Standalone BESS’ Reaches Commercial Close in South Africa’s Northern Cape

Image: Globeleq

Independent power producer Globeleq and investment platform African Rainbow Energy have achieved commercial close on the 612MWh Red Sands Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in South Africa — the largest standalone BESS facility in Africa to reach this milestone.

Located in the Northern Cape, the Red Sands project will occupy approximately five hectares and includes major upgrades to the grid infrastructure managed by Eskom and the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA). The battery system is designed to alleviate transmission and distribution congestion in the region, bolstering energy reliability and contributing to South Africa’s broader decarbonisation goals.

Awarded preferred bidder status under the South African Government’s Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Programme (BESIPPPP) in 2024, the Red Sands BESS will store electricity during off-peak hours and discharge it during peak demand. It will also provide essential ancillary services and grid balancing support to the NTCSA.

The project is Globeleq’s second utility-scale battery storage investment, joining a growing portfolio of 13 solar, wind, and hybrid PV-plus-storage facilities across South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, and Egypt, in addition to the Menengai geothermal plant under development in Kenya.

Jonathan Hoffman, CEO of Globeleq, stated:

“Commercial close on the Red Sands BESS is a landmark moment for Globeleq and for battery storage in Africa. It highlights our ability to deliver large-scale, clean energy infrastructure that meets the continent's evolving power needs. Building on over a decade of renewable energy leadership in South Africa and our Cuamba solar-plus-storage plant in Mozambique, we're integrating battery storage across our portfolio to support resilient, low-carbon power systems across Africa.”

Brian Dames, CEO of African Rainbow Energy, added:

“The investment in Red Sands, in partnership with Globeleq, supports our objective to utilise modern and renewable energy technologies to provide affordable electricity in South Africa and on the African continent, whilst uplifting communities. This investment also marks the substantial progress of the R3 billion commitment we have made as part of the South African Investment Drive.”

The Red Sands BESS marks a critical advancement in battery storage for South Africa and sets a new benchmark for utility-scale energy storage across the continent.