STANDBY, BACKUP AND EMERGENCY POWER
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How batteries can help SA avoid a grid crisis B attery energy storage is critical to stabilise SA’s energy future. Earlier this year, Spain and “Sunlight is a big natural resource for South Africa. Even though it took an energy crisis to significantly develop an energy
and store energy when it’s cheapest, use generated energy on tap, and wheel energy into the grid,” says Gurie. The range of BESS solutions supports everything from small to utility-scale sites and serves industries including mining, agriculture, light and heavy industry, and commercial. These are enabling large individual businesses, commercial and industrial parks, and entire communities to store and access power reliably without placing stress on the national grid. But BESS is more than just storage—it’s a pathway to modern energy technologies. BESS solutions incorporate Industry 4.0 technologies that modernise energy operations. For example, leading BESS vendors such as WEG also offer digital power management systems to increase control, visibility, and automation of energy systems. Stabilising the future’s energy supply Renewable energy abundance is replacing South Africa’s energy shortages. But that abundance will be wasted and even damaging if it cannot be stored and managed. Energy infrastructure and operations must be modernised and upgraded. It’s here that BESS will play a fundamental role, says Gurie. “Batteries are not just storage. They are the bricks and mortar that we can use to create our modern energy foundation. We are building the capacity to produce cheap, abundant energy. Now, we’ll start investing in making sure that abundance always serves our needs. BESS is a central part of that investment.”
Magazine said that the issue was due to grid codes causing inverters to disconnect in response to grid frequency changes. Saying that grids need to be redesigned, he added, “blaming renewables for Spain’s blackout is like faulting the thermometer for the fever.” The above situation underscores that grids will have to catch up with energy innovation, says Gurie. “An abundance of energy can create issues, but it’s a good problem to have. The events in Spain and Portugal reveal the importance of balancing generation with demand. It’s a reminder that the way we operate energy distribution needs to evolve. This shift in perspective has made battery energy storage systems more topical.” Stability through battery storage Energy storage is a cornerstone in helping stabilise and upgrade grids, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are becoming important facilitators of these outcomes. BESS are large battery systems that plug into local grids, including public utilities, large business premises and community substations. They store energy for later use, such as during peak periods when grid power becomes pricier, or to inject power when there is insufficient sunshine or wind to drive renewables. “BESS infrastructure helps take pressure off grids, giving them room to adjust and upgrade without disrupting energy delivery to communities and businesses. BESS helps shave the peaks and reduce the overall load on the grid. These systems let companies do energy stacking to generate which remains a major hurdle. Without substantial state support, a domestic cell factory is unlikely to be competitive in the near term. For now, importing cells – which account for roughly 40-45% of the final product cost – remains the most practical route, especially given China’s mature, integrated supply chain. The remaining 55-60% of value, however, can be produced locally, and this is where companies like ACTOM Static Energy compete strongly. Despite importing cells, ACTOM Static Energy matches imported complete products on price and outperforms many due to its unique technical design, backed by the bankability that comes with more than a century of manufacturing history. Sustained demand is also the foundation for meaningful job creation and skills development. The larger and more predictable the pipeline, the more manufacturers can invest in Research and Development (R&D), which is essential in a sector where battery technology evolves continuously. Designs do not stand still for a decade; cell capacities, chemistries and configurations shift rapidly, and keeping pace requires both capital and specialised talent. Balancing operations with R&D Manufacturers must balance day-to-day operations with ongoing R&D. In a stable market, this balance is far easier, enabling companies to expand their engineering capability, attract young talent to the sector, and build a broader skills base. Over the next two to three years, the sector anticipates significant growth and the creation of new
industry around that resource, we’re already enjoying major advantages like helping to reduce loadshedding, improving energy independence, and supporting economic growth.” However, this revolution is just starting, and there is now an additional concern that needs our attention, Pervin Gurie adds. “With capacity rising, there are now more questions about access to power reserves and grid stability.” The stability and access question In late April 2025, parts of Spain and Portugal experienced massive power outages. The causes of these blackouts are still being debated, but the general view is that the grid produced too much power. Critics used the outage to attack renewables, blaming them for creating the instability. But experts soon dismissed these claims and noted the event instead underscored how traditional grid designs are no longer keeping up with energy innovations. Xavier Daval, Chair of the Solar Commission at the French Renewable Energy Association,
Portugal lost up to 60% of their electrical power in mere seconds. The underlying issues exposed tensions between traditional grid infrastructure and the future of energy. It’s crucial that SA avoids a similar grid crisis, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are vital for that transition. SA’s renewables revolution South Africans are very familiar with energy challenges. When local power plants couldn’t keep up with the growing demand, the country implemented an energy management strategy called loadshedding, which periodically limited access to electricity. Eventually, both the public and private sectors began investing in renewable energy sources, and the results have been remarkable. Last year, SA had 8.97 GW of solar PV capacity, 11% higher than in 2023, according to the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA). Looking back, the shift seemed almost inevitable, says Pervin Gurie.
www.weg.net
Battery energy storage is key to powering a new chapter in South Africa’s manufacturing sector By Richard van Moltke, General Manager at ACTOM Static Power S outh Africa’s manufacturing sector is under increasing strain, squeezed by soaring energy costs,
renewables sector is the surge in imported products that destabilise the market. Local manufacturers cannot compete with ultra- low-cost PV modules from China or the growing influx of cut-price batteries. The result is a volatile environment in which domestic producers are undercut before they can scale, let alone secure the long- term investment needed to anchor a local energy-storage industry. A further constraint is the stop-start flow of orders on large renewable projects. Without a steady “heartbeat” of demand, manufacturers cannot operate or plan efficiently. Irregular bursts of work leave factories idling, skills underutilised, and margins eroded. When developers source cheaper products from the East, local producers lose not only the order but also the continuity needed to remain viable. A predictable baseline of demand is essential to keep South Africa’s manufacturing capacity alive. Cell manufacturing is, by nature, capital- intensive and highly specialised. While the government is exploring the feasibility of a local cell plant – given South Africa’s access to key raw materials – its viability ultimately hinges on consistent demand and long-term bankability. Demonstrable financial stability A manufacturer offering 10-year warranties must demonstrate 10-year financial stability,
an unreliable power supply and mounting competition from imported technologies. Yet this coincides with a key national pivot towards renewable energy, which presents a significant opportunity in the form of the rise of battery energy storage systems and the chance to build a competitive local manufacturing base around them. As South Africa accelerates its shift to renewables, battery storage has become indispensable for maintaining system stability. Variable generation inevitably strains the grid, from voltage swings to frequency fluctuations, and Eskom has increasingly turned to storage as the fastest, most effective way to smooth those pressures. A distributed network of batteries near generation sites can provide the flexibility the grid currently lacks and absorb the midday oversupply of solar power that is now being curtailed. By storing that excess energy for the evening and early-morning peaks, battery systems strengthen both grid reliability and the economics of renewable power.
Richard van Moltke
jobs across both low- and high-skilled categories. A successful battery-storage industry in South Africa will depend on technology tailored to local realities, from climate and grid conditions to the skills available to maintain equipment in remote areas. Imported systems are often judged by headline specifications, yet they are not always suited to African operating environments, nor do they account for long- term maintenance, safety, or lifecycle costs. Ultimately, the local market needs solutions engineered for durability, reliability and ease of maintenance, backed by companies with the financial strength to honour decade-long warranties. As the sector matures, the ability to provide complete, locally appropriate systems – not just battery modules – will be essential to building trust, ensuring performance and supporting the country’s broader energy transition.
Market challenges However, a significant challenge for the
www.actom.co.za
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JULY 2026
JULY 2026
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