ABO Energy has finalized the sale of two ready-to-build battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in South Africa to Electricité de France (EDF). Each project features a 77MW standalone battery system with a storage capacity of 308MWh.
EDF was selected as the preferred bidder for these projects during the first bid window of South Africa's Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme in late 2023. With financial close now achieved, construction is set to commence at the sites near Aggeneys in the Northern Cape and Vryburg in the North West province.
The general manager of ABO Energy in South Africa, Rob Invernizzi, highlighted the significance of the milestone. “The two large stand-alone battery storage systems will help to stabilize the local grid considerably,” he said.
These projects mark ABO Energy's first battery storage systems in South Africa to reach financial close. Since 2021, the company has sold wind and solar assets totaling 500MW in the country. The local subsidiary, established in 2017, is advancing a pipeline of approximately 5GW of renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, and storage systems, across regions with available grid resources.