ABO Energy has sold the rights of two battery energy storage systems (BESS) in South Africa to French Électricité de France (EDF) after developing them into ready-to-build status. EDF was awarded preferred bidder status for both projects on November 30, 2023 in the first bid window of the Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP).
Located in South Africa’s Northern Cape and North West provinces, these will be stand-alone BESS installations with a power output of 77 MW each, and a storage capacity of 308 MWh. It is anticipated that the locations close to Aggeneys and Vryburg will greatly improve grid stability in those areas. The two projects are ABO Energy’s first South African BESS to reach financial closure.
In January 2024, A consortium of Mulilo and EDF was finalised as a preferred bidder for three battery energy storage projects. Mulilo is a South African independent power producer which is majority owned by CIP. A total of five projects were awarded under South Africa’s first Battery Energy Storage Procurement Programme by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the consortium won BESS projects totaling 257MW/1,028MWh of energy storage.
