ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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Advanced fire protection for South Africa’s battery storage boom A s lithium-ion batteries become central to backup power and energy storage systems, innovative passive
address the unique risks posed by thermal runaway events in Li-ion batteries. “Li-ion battery fires behave very differently from conventional fires,” he says. Fire protection strategies need to evolve “They burn at extremely high temperatures, can reignite hours after being extinguished, and release toxic gases during combustion. As battery storage becomes central to South Africa’s energy future, fire protection strategies need to evolve accordingly.” In response to this growing challenge, advanced passive fire protection technologies developed in Germany are now entering the South African market through PyroBrand and ASP Fire. The technology uses engineered, non- combustible glass granules that surround battery modules or cells, creating an inert insulating barrier that suppresses flames, absorbs heat, and helps contain thermal
runaway before it escalates. Unlike active suppression systems that rely on external intervention, passive protection solutions function continuously and automatically, making them particularly suited to battery storage environments where early containment is critical. A major shift towards preventative risk mitigation “This technology represents a major shift towards preventative risk mitigation,” explains van Niekerk. “The goal is not simply to extinguish a fire after ignition, but to minimise the probability of catastrophic propagation within battery systems.” The material has been tested to international standards and demonstrates thermal stability at temperatures exceeding 1 000 °C. Independent South African testing has also shown a significant reduction of toxic vapours
generated during battery failure events, an important consideration for enclosed battery rooms, logistics facilities, and energy storage installations. The technology is additionally being incorporated into specialised transport and storage containers for damaged or defective batteries, supporting safer logistics across sectors such as mining, telecommunications, manufacturing, renewable energy, and electric mobility. “With South Africa’s dependence on backup and standby power continuing to grow, the safe deployment of battery technologies is becoming a critical infrastructure issue,” concludes van Niekerk. “The industry needs solutions that combine compliance, operational resilience, and environmental responsibility. Passive fire protection is becoming an essential part of that conversation.”
fire protection technologies are helping to mitigate the growing risks of thermal runaway events As South Africa accelerates its adoption of backup power systems, battery energy storage solutions (BESS), and renewable energy technologies, the fire risks associated with lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are becoming an increasingly urgent concern for the electrical sector. From residential solar installations and commercial UPS systems to large-scale energy storage facilities, Li-ion batteries are now integral to modern energy resilience strategies. However, these systems introduce complex fire hazards that conventional suppression technologies are often ill-equipped to manage. According to Michael van Niekerk, CEO of ASP Fire, the industry must adapt rapidly to
www.aspfire.co.za
Kalfresh partners with global bioenergy technology leader WELTEC BIOPOWER
Gas-to-power hopes hinge on terminals, tenants and timing By: Chris Yelland, EE Business Intelligence S outhern Africa’s gas sector has made some progress, with parallel developments in South Africa’s planned LNG import infrastructure and Mozambique’s expanding offshore LNG export industry. At Richards Bay, Zululand Energy Terminal has strengthened the commercial case for South Africa’s first planned LNG import facility. Reuters reported in June that ExxonMobil had signed a preliminary agreement to supply LNG to the terminal, reinforcing Richards Bay’s role as a future entry point for imported gas. This followed Eskom’s Heads of Agreement with ZET, under which Eskom is positioned as a foundational customer for LNG import, storage and regasification infrastructure linked to its proposed 3000 MW gas-to-power programme. For South Africa, LNG could support flexible generation, reduce diesel dependence and provide feedstock for industrial users. But the risks remain equally clear. Imported LNG is exposed to global price volatility, foreign exchange movements, port and pipeline constraints, and the risk that expensive gas-to-power locks consumers into long-term costs just as renewables, storage and demand flexibility are becoming cheaper. Mozambique, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction: from gas resource holder to major LNG exporter. Mozambique Rovuma Venture, led by Eni, has issued an international call for expressions of interest in a third floating LNG unit in Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin. The proposed facility could produce up to six million tonnes a year, with the engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) scope covering these activities in water depths of about 2000 m. With Coral Sul and Coral Norte, the tender confirms the growing importance of offshore LNG in Mozambique’s fiscal and industrial strategy. Gas is back on the agenda – but its bankability will depend on price, security, infrastructure, environmental risk and credible offtake.
Kalfresh has secured WELTEC BIOPOWER, a leading international technology partner, to deliver its landmark bioenergy facility at Kalbar in South-East Queensland, aligning with one of the world’s most experienced and proven providers of anaerobic digestion technology. The Queensland-based vegetable business has signed an agreement with the German company to design and build the first stage of the bioenergy facility, which will anchor the new Scenic Rim Agricultural Industrial Precinct. The WELTEC equipment is due to arrive on site in late August, when construction of the first anaerobic digestion (AD) tank will commence. The partnership marks a significant milestone and will unlock the paddock-to-power potential of Kalfresh’s vertically integrated business, which will convert crop residues, processing offcuts and agricultural waste into several renewable by-products. One by-product, a nutrient- rich digestate, will be returned to farms as a biofertiliser, advancing Kalfresh’s long-term vision of circular agriculture. Kalfresh CEO Richard Gorman said WELTEC BIOPOWER will use its proven stainless-steel tank technology, which ensures durability, corrosion resistance and long operational life. “For us, it was critical to work with a partner that has a track record of delivering reliable, long-term infrastructure,” Mr Gorman said. “This is proven technology, and we’re building it to last. We have visited many operational bioenergy sites overseas, including those designed and built by WELTEC. They have a reputation for designing efficient, high-quality systems that perform consistently. “Kalfresh sent a group of Queensland farmers to Germany in April to visit WELTEC sites and see the AD technology first-hand.” WELTEC BIOPOWER was established in 2001 and has planned, delivered and constructed more than 450 specialised stainless-steel biogas plants in the US, Japan, Cyprus, the UK and across Europe. Dirk Krumdieck, CEO and Head of Sales at WELTEC BIOPOWER, says the agreement reflects the extensive preparatory work and technical planning undertaken by WELTEC and Kalfresh in recent years. „We are excited to be delivering a flagship bioenergy project in Australia that combines Kalfresh’s agricultural innovation with our proven European biogas engineering experience,” Mr Krumdieck said. The project will be delivered in three stages. The first stage involves the construction of a
large digester with a diameter of 31.48 metres and a height of 8.8 metres, along with a digestate storage tank, all supported by the newly implemented WELTEC Control system. It represents a new model for Australian agriculture, in which farming, food production and energy generation operate side by side in a closed-loop system. At full capacity, the facility could feature 14 digesters capable of producing enough energy to power up to 31,000 homes or fuel up to 98 million kilometres of truck and bus travel annually. “Recent international events have made it clear there’s a real and immediate need for national fuel and fertiliser security,” said Mr Gorman. “The introduction of a home-grown, dispatchable source of renewable natural gas into the energy mix comes at an important time. We can help transition Australia’s emitters towards emissions- free operation. “This is a practical, farmer-led solution that works today and can be replicated in the future in agricultural communities across the country, adding value to what is already produced on farms.” The Scenic Rim Agricultural Industrial Precinct will co-locate advanced food manufacturing on a 40-hectare site fronting the Cunningham Highway, approximately one hour from Brisbane. The Precinct will feature 16 serviced lots, three of which are occupied by Kalfresh, with access to on- site renewable power and circular waste services.
www.ee.co.za
www.kalfreshbioenergy.com.au
SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS
AUGUST 2026
AUGUST 2026
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