South Africa’s DMRE launches third battery storage tender

South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has announced the launch of Bid Window 3 of the country’s Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP BW 3). The tender is calling for submission of bids for energy storage projects totalling 616 MW / 2464 MWh at pre-selected substation sites identified by Eskom.

BESIPPPP is a grid-scale energy storage programme for procurement of energy storage systems from private energy storage companies. The battery storage procurement programme is aimed at enhancing grid capacity for improved integration of renewable energy projects.

In the announcement for Bid Window 3 of BESIPPPP, DMRE also announced the appointment of the 5th preferred bidder under the BESIPPPP Bid Window 1, AGV Projects (Pty) Ltd, which will provide 153 MW Battery Energy Storage capacity through its Red Sands BESS project.

Eskom identified 5 sites for the development of the battery energy storage projects under BESIPPPP BW 3. The sites are Harvard, Leander, Theseus, Everest, and Merapi substations and are all located in the Free State Province. The bid submission date is 31 July 2024.

The battery energy storage systems are expected to provide the grid operator Eskom with enhanced grid capacity, energy and ancillary services, specifically Instantaneous Reserves, Regulating Reserves, Ten Reserves and Supplemental Reserves.

Further information on accessing the RFP for BESIPPPP BW 3 can be obtained on the IPP Projects Website at www.ipp-storage.co.za.