South Africa Plans 9.6 GW Of Battery Storage And Gas-To-Power Capacity

South Africa plans to procure 9.6 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage and gas-to-power capacity under its Integrated Resource Plan 2025, Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said on Wednesday.

The allocation comprises 4,600 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage systems and 5,000 MW of gas-to-power capacity to meet immediate needs for storage, flexibility and dispatchable electricity supply.

The first determination will make no provision for new wind or solar capacity, with allocations for those technologies to follow later, Ramokgopa told a briefing.

“A subsequent determination will address these technologies, including hybrid projects coupled with energy storage and longer-term pumped storage development,” he said.

Africa’s largest economy plans to add more than 105 GW of new generation capacity by 2039, according to the plan released last year. Renewable energy would account for more than half of the additions as the country gradually reduces its dependence on coal.

South Africa currently has five battery storage projects totalling 513 MW. Wider deployment of the technology would help the country make better use of wind and solar resources constrained by insufficient grid capacity, Ramokgopa said.

The country is also evaluating proposals from four shortlisted consortia bidding to develop 2 GW of gas-to-power capacity.

The Integrated Resource Plan provides for 16 GW of gas-fired capacity in the electricity mix by 2039.