Independent power producer Globeleq and its partner African Rainbow Energy have announced the commercial close of the Red Sands Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in South Africa. The 153 MW / 612 MWh facility, located in the Northern Cape, is now the largest standalone battery storage project on the continent to reach this milestone.
Project agreements have been signed with the Department of Electricity and Energy and the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), marking a key step in South Africa’s energy transition. Red Sands BESS was selected as a preferred bidder in 2024 under the government’s Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Programme.
Spanning approximately five hectares, the project will require significant upgrades to Eskom and NTCSA infrastructure. It will provide critical services such as energy shifting—charging during off-peak hours and discharging during peak demand—as well as grid stability and ancillary support.
This is Globeleq’s second utility-scale BESS project, expanding its footprint beyond existing assets in South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, and Egypt. CEO Jonathan Hoffman emphasized the importance of the project in accelerating low-carbon power systems across Africa.
African Rainbow Energy CEO Brian Dames highlighted the project’s alignment with the company’s R3 billion commitment under the South African Investment Drive, aimed at leveraging modern technologies for affordable power and community upliftment.
NTCSA’s interim Chief Executive, Segomoco Scheppers, noted that the project will unlock capacity in a heavily constrained region, supporting dispatchable loads and easing grid pressure.
International partners, including British and Norwegian diplomats, praised the project for fostering sustainable energy development through global cooperation, public-private partnerships, and climate-aligned financing.
