Norwegian energy company Scatec has made strides over the last few decades with its energy storage products and solutions that most recently involve integrating cutting-edge storage technologies into renewable energy projects.
Scatec has headed to the Northern Cape Province where it is executing its three Kenhardt battery storage projects after concluding the contract in late 2022 with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in South Africa.
Jan Fourie, Executive Vice President for Scatec in Sub-Saharan Africa, says, “The initiation of our three Kenhardt projects, under the auspices of the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP), exemplifies Scatec’s innovative spirit. These ambitious projects, involving a total capital expenditure approaching a staggering $1 billion, represent one of the most extensive photovoltaic endeavours globally.”
The Kenhardt projects are unique in design to meet the needs of the project as well as the South African environment and weather systems. “There is a total solar capacity of 540MW and a battery storage capacity of 225MW/1,140MWh is truly the first of its kind,” says Fourie, adding, “Upon completion, the Scatec Kenhardt system will rank among the world’s largest solar and battery hybrid installations. More than just large-scale, these projects are transformative in that the utility-scale energy storage solutions will allow renewable solar energy to become fully dispatchable – and to flexibly meet the demands of the grid in real-time.”
The projects provide a glimpse into the future of energy storage. Expected to provide 150MW of dispatchable power under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the Kenhardt plants will significantly alleviate the power shortages currently experienced in the region, highlighting the critical role of energy storage in SA’s road towards energy security, and the battle against the ongoing Loadshedding crisis.
Scatec will retain a 51% stake in the project, while the remaining 49% will be held by the company’s local partner, H1 Holdings, says Fourie. “Our role as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) provider mandates us to provide Operation & Maintenance and Asset Management services for the power plants. This strategy reinforces Scatec’s commitment to fostering local economic growth, and also facilitating skills and knowledge transfer around the latest innovations in incipient energy storage technologies – a rapidly evolving field.”
Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) technology continues to be widely used as the primary storage solution in the solar energy industry, especially in South Africa where the climate is sunnier and warmer than most parts of the world. This has helped make solar energy cost competitive with coal-based plants at the utility and industrial scales, Fourie explains. Not that Scatec is resting on its laurels. “Other technologies are emerging as potential alternatives. For instance, supercapacitors and different types of batteries (such as Li/K/Zn/Na/Mg ion/air-based solutions) are being researched for their flexibility of scale and low environmental impact. While Li-Ion is still a standard, we are committed to staying at the forefront of these developments, exploring options and considering how to leverage these advances to diversify the solar energy storage landscape, and drive further innovation.”
The Kenhardt projects highlight the importance of using the most technologically advanced equipment available in the storage industry to effect a true and just energy transition in SA. “Our role in these projects and our commitment to integrating cutting-edge storage technologies affirm our position as a key player in driving the solar energy revolution in the country,” concludes Fourie.
Enquiries: www.scatec.com
