The lithium-ion batteries typically coupled with rooftop solar installations are just one of the two types of energy storage systems contributing to Eskom’s ability to keep the lights on in peak demand in 2024.
Multiple types of energy storage have played a critical role in helping Eskom avoid load-shedding over the past few months, according to EE Business Intelligence head and reputed energy expert Chris Yelland.
This included water “batteries” at its three pumped storage dam schemes — Drakensberg, Ingula, and Palmiet. When used as intended, pumped storage schemes only pump water to their upper reservoir during off-peak periods. That often led to the upper reservoir’s levels depleting completely before the end of the week, requiring that Eskom implement load-shedding over the weekend to “recharge” the dams.
One indicator of the available capacity is the amount of batteries coming across South African borders., South Africa imported $1.75-billion’s worth of lithium-ion batteries in 2023, over double the value imported in 2022.To put that figure into perspective, Eskom’s two newest and biggest coal power stations — Medupi and Kusile — boast a combined design capacity of 9,600MW.
Larger 8-,10-, or 12-panel installations with capacities of roughly 4kWp, 5kWp, or 6kWp, respectively, are often combined with 10kWh of storage.
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